The Impact of a Professional Intervention Program within Generalist Social Work Practice on Reducing Social Stigma among Indebted Women

The study aimed to assess the impact of a professional intervention program based on generalist social work practice in reducing the effects of social stigma among female debtors, who represent a group exposed to multiple life pressures that negatively affect their familial and societal integration. The intervention program was implemented at the Community Development Association in Sheikh Ali East village on a purposive sample of 14 female debtors selected according to objective criteria that ensured the presence of social stigma manifestations prior to the intervention. The study adopted an experimental approach using a one-group pre-test/post-test design. A professional intervention program was developed based on the theoretical framework of generalist social work practice, aiming to enhance the self-image of female debtors and improve their familial, societal, and economic relationships. The program’s impact was measured across four dimensions of social stigma: societal, familial, psychological, and economic. The results indicated statistically significant differences between pre- and post-test scores in favor of the post-test, which confirms the effectiveness of the program in reducing stigma levels and improving the psychological and social adjustment of the participants. The study also identified a set of mechanisms that can be utilized to develop future intervention programs targeting female debtors and supporting their social and economic empowerment.