Depression in Older Immigrant African Women: A Social Work Study

Study Overview and Research Questions

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study is to explore the views of social workers regarding depression in older immigrant African women in Metro West Massachusetts. The study also aims to gain insights into ways the social work sector can assist in meeting the emerging needs of this population. The study findings will enhance access to quality mental health services and ensure the women understand the implications of not seeking mental health care. Armed with the study results, insights will be gained into the issues these women face, and solutions directly targeted to the population can be developed (Agbemenu, 2016).

The data will be used to answer the following research questions:

1. From the perspective and experience of social workers, what factors influence older immigrant African women's adaptive capacity in Metro West Massachusetts?

2. From the social work perspective, what mental health services do social workers offer to older immigrant African women in Metro West Massachusetts?

3. How do social workers assess the need for mental health services for older immigrant African women in Metro West Massachusetts?

Data Analysis Techniques and Sampling

4. What service modifications can social workers introduce in practice to enhance mental health service delivery for older immigrant African women in Metro West Massachusetts?

The following sections discuss the data analysis techniques used to conduct this study, the sample population and demographics, thematic analysis procedures, and a concluding summary.

The data collection process will begin after receiving authorization from the university's Institutional Review Board. Thereafter, the study invitation flyer will be posted on Facebook and LinkedIn to obtain 10–12 study participants with experience working with elderly immigrant African women in Metro West Massachusetts. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all interviews will be conducted using internet services such as GoToMeeting, Skype, Zoom, or another web-based platform. The recruitment flyer will be updated to reflect this decision.

The researcher will rely solely on responses received via email from individuals expressing interest in participating. For each potential participant who meets the inclusion criteria, the researcher will explain the next steps via email and attach a consent form. Screening for vulnerabilities is necessary since the study targets adults; any minors who respond will not be permitted to participate. The recruitment flyer will contain eligibility information to assist in screening. While the study does not specifically seek individuals from vulnerable categories, the sample may include vulnerable adults if they meet the inclusion criteria. It is anticipated that sufficient participants will respond within one week of posting the flyer.

Consent and screening will be processed as emails arrive to ensure timely communication. The researcher will aim to respond to each potential participant within two hours of receiving an expression of interest. Participants must reply to the email consent form indicating agreement to take part. Only those who provide consent will be contacted and scheduled for a virtual interview. Priority will be given to social workers with more extensive experience working with older immigrant African women, as they are expected to provide richer information than those with only approximately three years of experience.

The researcher plans to include 10 study participants and will add up to two more only if the data collected is determined to be insufficient.

Quota sampling will be used, as the study requires participants with specific characteristics (Etikan & Bala, 2017). Social workers who express interest will be asked to provide information about years of experience, client demographics, and the insights they can contribute to the study. Sample sizes are fixed under quota sampling, allowing no room for increasing the number of participants beyond what is specified. The characteristics required of participating social workers are:

Data Collection Procedures and Coding

1. The social worker must have been working in the Metro West Massachusetts area for a minimum of three years.

2. The social worker must hold a graduate-level or higher qualification.

3. The social worker must be currently working with older African immigrants.

Study participants will be assigned a pseudonym — "Social Worker" — followed by a unique identification number to protect confidentiality and privacy. Actual names of social workers or their clients will not appear in any questionnaires or interview records. Before recording begins, participants will be asked to confirm they understand and accept this requirement. Table 1 presents the sample characteristics of the potential study population.

Table 1: Study Sample Characteristics

Social Worker 0021 — BSW and MSW — 6 years experience
Social Worker 0022 — BSW — 4 years experience
Social Worker 0023 — BSW — 4 years experience
Social Worker 0024 — BSW and MSW — 5 years experience
Social Worker 0025 — BSW and MSW — 5 years experience
Social Worker 0026 — BSW — 3 years experience
Social Worker 0027 — BSW and MSW — 3 years experience
Social Worker 0028 — BSW — 3 years experience
Social Worker 0029 — BSW and MSW — 5 years experience
Social Worker 0030 — BSW and MSW — 5 years experience

All recruited study participants will be sent the consent form via email. Once a potential participant responds with the words "I consent," they will receive a link with calendar dates and time slots for the virtual interview. Upon selecting a convenient slot, both the researcher and the participant will receive confirmation emails. All interviews will be conducted using either Skype or Zoom, based on participant preference; the consent form will be updated to reflect this. For Zoom interviews, a password will be created and sent to each participant, and a unique meeting ID will be assigned to each participant to prevent scheduling mix-ups. Participants will be asked to access the interview link from a private and secluded location to maintain confidentiality.

The projected number of participants is 10–12 social workers. This is considered a representative number given that approximately 120 social workers operate in the area. Time constraints make it impractical to include more than 12 participants, as additional interviews would prolong the coding and analysis process and risk producing unclear answers.