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This thesis delves into the exploration of meaningful work by examining the narratives and experiences of employees. Employing a theory-elaborative approach while utilizing Laaser and Karlsson's (2022) typology of autonomy, recognition, and dignity as a foundational framework of meaningful work. This investigation centers on firsthand accounts, with four social workers from a municipality in Sweden providing insights through four in-depth interviews and thus shedding light on what holds importance within the context of their work.  Aligned with the theory, patterns surfaced in informants' statements, indicating interdependent relationships among conditions fostering recognition, dignity, and autonomy at work. While cautioning against asserting causation, this observation emerged organically during empirical analysis. Additionally, the study identifies an unexplored dimension within the typology of meaningful work—the emotional dimension. Recognizing the pivotal role of emotion management and emotional experiences, this dimension can enrich our understanding of employees' perceptions of meaningful work. The essay demonstrates the foundational role of formal and informal autonomy, acting as a cornerstone where other dimensions converge to create a meaningful work experience. Whether originating from formal or informal channels, autonomy empowers employees to establish a sphere independent of the formal organization. This autonomy, illustrated by examples such as schedule flexibility and break adjustments, strengthens the informal organization's capacity to uphold dimensions of dignity, recognition, and emotional well-being (cf. Laaser & Karlsson, 2022).

Studiens huvudsyfte är att utforska HVB-personalens känslomässiga påfrestningar i samband med bemötandet av ensamkommande flyktingbarn samt att utforska personalens upplevelser av sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö i relation till interaktion med ungdomarna. Studien är baserad på fenomenologisk ansats, med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer med 10 medarbetare. Resultatet redogör för medarbetarnas upplevelser i samband med bemötandet av ensamkommande flyktingbarn samt medarbetarnas upplevelser av sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö i relation till interaktion med ungdomarna. Enligt resultatet upplevs arbetet med ensamkommande barn som både givande och krävande. Social kompetens upplevs vara den viktigaste kunskapen men även språk- och kulturkompetens betonas. Dessutom lyfts lyhördhet och respekt för andra människor fram som centrala aspekter. Enligt respondenternas utsagor upplevs den psykosociala arbetsmiljön någorlunda stressande. Medarbetarna använder sig av olika copingstategier för att hantera den emotionella påverkan. Studiens slutsats är att arbetet på HVB-hem är psykiskt och emotionellt påfrestande vilket ökar tendensen till psykisk ohälsa. / The purpose of this study was to explore the HVB staff's emotional strain associated with their work. The study is based on a phenomenological approach, using semi-structured interviews of ten employees. According to my results the personnel experienced working with unaccompanied minors as both rewarding and demanding. Social skills are the most important knowledge in this kind of work, but language and cultural competence are also desirable. Sensitivity and respect for other people are highlighted as central issues in this kind of work. The psychosocial environment is perceived as stressful. Workers use various coping strategies to manage their stress. The study concludes that work in the HVB home is mentally and emotionally stressful and strenuous, increasing the risk of mental illness.

Det här arbetet ägnas åt att närmare studera vad som händer med människans sociala och psykiska välbefinnande när de av olika anledningar väljer att lämna sin frikyrka på en liten ort. Vi har gjort narrativa intervjuer av tio olika respondenter som alla valt av olika anledningar att lämna sin frikyrkliga församling. Transkribering har sedan skett med fokus på att hitta gemensamma nämnare och tolka våra respondenters upplevelser. I den analys vi har gjort av empirin har vi dragit slutsatsen att de sociala och psykiska konsekvenserna är att det lilla samhället påverkar ex-medlemmarnas välbefinnande, framförallt genom starka skuld och skamkänslor och hotar de sociala band som funnits i så många år.  Naturligtvis finns det inte ett skäl till att en individ väljer att lämna men en stor bidragande orsak är lång tids ytagerande och frihetskänslan från församlingen och frihet till något annat. Men, vad ska folk säga? / This project pays particular attention to the effects on the social and psychological well-being of people, who for different reasons choose to leave their church in a small community. We have performed narrative interviews with ten respondents who all had different reasons for leaving their congregations. The obtained data has then been transcribed with focus on finding common denominators, as well as interpreting our respondents' experiences. In our analysis of the collected data, we conclude that the social and psychological consequences are that the small community will have an influence on the ex member's well-being, above all through strong feelings of guilt and shame and threats to long-standing social ties.There is, of course, more than one single reason why a person decides to leave, but a major contributing reason is long term surface acting and a sense of freedom from the congregation, as well as freedom to do other things. But what will people say?

In the present study, the relationship between work identity (emotion and cognition components) and work-related stress was investigated, and if work-life balance (WLB) and its components family-work conflict (FWC) and work-family conflict (WFC), might mediate this relationship. The study included 104 participants recruited via Facebook. The results showed: (1) Positive relationship between the cognitive component in the work-related identity and work-related stress; and (2) Negative relationship between the emotional component of the work-related identity and work-related stress. WLB was also shown to mediate the relation between the cognitive component in the work-related identity and work-related stress, accounted for by the WFC-component of WLB.

The thesis examines, through qualitative methods, the role of the horse in equine-assisted social work (EASW) as well as what facilitates or constrains the role of the horse. Specifically, should interaction be understood in the same manner regardless of which individuals that participate? The thesis is based on empirical data collected throughinterviews with eight staff members and nine female self-harming clients, aged 15–21 years, in a residential treatment facility. In addition, video recordings of the human-horse interaction of three staff members and four clients were analyzed, resulting in the additional issues addressed in a second interview. Critical dialogues between patterns and fragmentations in the narratives and video-recordings, as well as a dialogue with participants, while they were viewing videos of their own EASW sessions, led to the conclusion that adding a horse could qualitatively change therapeutic relationships.  The results are presented in four articles that provide an image of the complexity of EASW. The summary chapters focus on a synthesized analysis, based on Goffman’sdramaturgical perspective and Hochschild’s emotional rules in which the concepts were applied: backstage, frontstage, impression management, stigma, emotional management, deep acting and surface acting. The analysis demonstrated that defense mechanisms are reduced when the horse is perceived as non-judgmental and therefore less intimidating. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that it is crucial that the horse is regarded as a subject, a transitional object, which can silence the inner critic and create a ‘moment of silence’ that contradicts stigmas and enablesadolescents to regulate their emotions. This leads to possibilities to be more authentic and the relationship between staff and adolescents to be perceived as more authentic.  In summary, the work presented in this thesis contributes to increased knowledge about the role of the horse in opposing impression management and surface acting, depending on the high demands on staff to reach outcomes regarding communication, self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-image. The different triads consist of different liaisons, giving rise to unique combinations and the potential to avoid emotional dissonance. The quality of the relationships seems to depend on staff and clients’ attachment orientations.  Keywords: Authentic, Emotional work, Equine-assisted social work, Impression management, Moment of silence, Self-harming adolescents, Stigmatization

In Sweden, new parents are always offered a visit from a child health care nurse. Usually the home visit takes place with only the child health care nurse. In a smaller municipality in Sweden, a decision has been made that home visits should take place in teams. The team consists of a child health care nurse and a representative from the Social Services. The aim of this study is to explore the role of emotions and emotional rules in meetings between parents, child health care nurses and representatives from the Social Services that take place in a home environment. The study also aims to investigate how emotions are shaped by the professional role (as child health care nurse and Social Services representative) as well as the place (the home of the parents). The data in the study has been gathered through a qualitative research method and eight interviews were conducted with child health care nurses as well as representatives from the Social Services. The data has been analyzed through sociology of emotions as well as Goffman's dramaturgical perspective. The results of the study shows that emotional rules and professional emotional rules are most present in the emotional labour that child health care nurses and representatives from the Social Services perform at home visits in teams. The professionals strive to convey and provide security to the new parents by adhering to emotional rules and professional emotional rules. Furthermore, it appears that the professional role and the place are of great importance for the role of emotions during home visits. Given that the meeting takes place in the private sphere of the home means that the professionals refrain from ending up in a discussion with the parents. However, they feel more comfortable having that kind of discussion at the health center.

This study aimed to gain an understanding of how social workers emotionally dealt with cases where there were suspicion or knowledge of sexual abuse of children occurring. This study was based on six qualitative interviews with social workers within child and youth units at social services in Stockholm County. The theoretical framework was Hochschild’s theory of emotional work. In accordance with previous research, our results showed that emotions in social work are extremely important and that children who have been exposed to sexual abuse cause a more emotional working environment. The social workers wanted to protect the children who had been abused. The results also showed that some form of specialist education should be compulsory required to work with children and to investigate their families and environment.

The purpose of this study was to investigate social workers' impact of emotional work with their clients and what strategies they use to deal with it. Swedish research in this area is very limited. International research shows that both social workers and (primarily) healthcare professionals are emotionally affected. The importance of awareness was emphasized and the requirement for more knowledge. This study was based on seven qualitative interviews conducted with social workers. The theoretical approach included the concepts of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction and the theory of coping-strategies. We analyzed the material thematically which resulted in the conclusion that social workers are both positively and negatively affected emotionally by their work. The impact has been shown primarily through evidence of exhaustion. Each social worker interviewed managed the negative impact of their work with individual strategies. The general strategy was to prioritize their health and create time for recovery. The results illustrated  the need for an increase in understanding of the importance of valuing the well-being of social workers. This would benefit not just social workers, but also the clients they serve.