David Kondrat
- Ph.D., MSW
- Senior MSW Program Director / Associate Professor
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IU Indianapolis IU Online
Contact
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(317) 274-6719
- dckondra@iu.edu
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ES 4138G
902 W. New York St.
Education
PhD
Emphasis/Major: Social Work2008 - The Ohio State University
Dissertation: Expanding Understanding of Mental Health Recovery: Effects of Stigma and Working Alliance on the Quality of Life of Persons with Severe Mental Disabilities Receiving Community-Based Services
MSW
Emphasis/Major: Social Work1999 - The Ohio State University
BSSW
Emphasis/Major: Social Work1998 - St. Louis University
Awards and Honors
- Journal of Social Work Education: Mixed-Methods article of the year
2023 - Journal of Social Work Education - Jim Hall Mentorship Award
2023 - PhD Students - Society for Social Work and Research Fellow
2017 - Society for Social Work and Research
Publications
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Al-Ma’seb, H., Al-Sejari, M., & Kondrat, D. C. (2023). The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives and social daily life of married individuals during the total curfew in Kuwait. Journal of Affective Disorder Reports, 14(December), online only jounral. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100676
Background
Economic problems, social distancing, and drastic alterations to daily lifestyle behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic affected individuals’ social relations worldwide.
Objective
This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants’ social relationships, diets, incomes, health, religious beliefs, and mental health.
Method
An online questionnaire composed of demographic questions; questions regarding participants’ social, economic, and health lives; and two scales that measure depression, anxiety, stress and positive and negative suicide ideation inventory was distributed to 528 married couples.
Results
The findings of this study showed significant differences between the independent variables and the dependent variables, which were the DASS and the PANSI.
ConclusionThe findings from this study highlight the importance of beliefs about COVID-19 for the welfare of families. Furthermore, the findings contribute to the literature by examining how people’s views of the effects of COVID-19 on social relations, healthy diets, incomes, health, and religion relate to mental health. -
Kondrat, D. C., Jaggers, J. W., Charles, J. K., & Bartholomew, J. (2023). Provider Types and Perceived Mental Health Discrimination in Health Care Settings: Results of a Canadian Nationally Representative Sample. Best Practices in Mental Health, 19(1), 32-48. View Publication For Provider Types and Perceived Mental Health Discrimination in Health Care Settings: Results of a Canadian Nationally Representative Sample
An exploratory investigation was conducted to assess the influence of provider types on a client’s perception of mental health stigmatization in a health care setting. A subsample of respondents (n = 2,323) to the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health was included in the analysis. We used multiple regression to investigate the potential associations between provider types and number of providers seen for persons with mental health concerns experiencing health-care-related stigma. Seeking help from some groups was associated with increased odds of experiencing health care provider stigma. Seeing more professionals was also associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing health care provider stigma. The results clarify that individuals who experience mental illness often perceive discrimination and prejudice when seeking mental health treatment. Given the impact of stigma on treatment-seeking behavior, it is plausible that some mental health providers are contributing to the client’s choice not to seek care.
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Kondrat, D. C., Jaggers, J. W., Castillo, J., Kathlan, S. C., Pierce, B. J., & Allen, A. =. (2023). The relationship of county-level characteristics on length of time clients are in child protective services: The context of care. Journal of Social Service Research, 49(3), 298-308. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2023.2226173
Time spent in the child welfare system changes the life trajectory of those in care. Children who spend longer in care are at greater risk for mental illness. Adoption and Safe Families Act put a limit on how long children could be in out-of-home care; 15 months out of the last 22. Researchers have studied both individual and environmental correlates of time in care. No study has explored individual and environmental predictors of time to case closure. This study sought to fill the gap by studying county and individual-level variables, including race and delinquency. Data came from a state administrative dataset (n = 46,923). Using multilevel modeling, results indicated that older children, being Black, or having a Child in Need of Services case was at a greater risk of time in care. The effects of these latter two variables varied by county. At the county level, percent minority and adjusted crime rate were related to time in care. Practitioners can use the results to address contextual and client-related factors to increased time to case closure. Future research should focus on understanding how these factors correlate with longer stays in care and on developing and testing interventions that address these correlates.
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Jaggers, J. W., Kondrat, D. C., Canada, K. E., & Miller, K. (2022). An ego-centric model of criminal arrest among mental health court participant networks. Families in Society, 345-357.
People with serious mental illness are disproportionately represented among prison/jail populations. Mental health courts (MHC) serve as an alternative to incarceration. In this study, we explore the extent to which MHC participants have members of their social network who were reported as having a history of arrests. Multilevel logistic regression demonstrated friends who used drugs, race, and network density were all predictive of MHC participants’ friends who have a history of arrest. Results demonstrate an association between MHC participation and arrest among individuals in their social network. Given the importance of social support in recovery from mental illness and in desisting from crime, such limitations can be problematic. MHC participants may be disinclined to engage with the very individuals who are able to provide social and emotional support. -
Kondrat, D. C. (2022). Strengths-Based Case Management (pp. 745-749). Oxford University Press.
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Kondrat, D. C., & Early, T. J. (2022). Case Management with Persons with Severe Mental illness (pp. 783-789). Oxford University Press.
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Holley, L. C., Charles, J. L., Kondrat, D. C., & Walter-McCabe, H. A. (2022). Supports and Gatekeeping: Experiences of Schools of Social Work With Students With Mental Health Conditions. Journal of Social Work Education, 58(1), 76-95.
Some social work educators advocate for people with mental health conditions to become social workers because they may possess experiential knowledge and insights that equip them to help others achieve recovery goals. Educators also are tasked with gatekeeping, ensuring that students demonstrate social work competencies. Minimal research exists about how schools handle these dual responsibilities. Using an online survey of deans and directors and BSW and MSW coordinators of programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, this mixed-methods study asked about program administrators’ (a) experiences with students with mental health conditions and (b) existing and needed policies and practices related to these students. According to findings, a large majority described problems experienced by students with mental health conditions; schools managed mental health-related issues in a variety of ways; most said these students have graduated using supports; about half indicated students had been terminated because of mental health-related issues; disruptive behaviors, absences, and boundary issues were key challenges; and some programs’ practices might violate federal statutes. Student counseling, legal advice, and relationships with disability resource centers were desired resources. Implications include considerations for policies that are consistent with social work’s social justice mandate, federal laws, and our gatekeeping responsibilities.
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Park, T., Hong, M., & Kondrat, D. C. (2022). Undergraduate students’ attitudes toward statistics: How Excel makes a student’s life easier . Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. Published.
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Linhorst, D. M., Kondrat, D. C., Eikenberry, J., & Dirks-, A. P. (2022). Association between legal representation and mental health court outcomes. American Journal of Criminal Justice. Published. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-020-09594-6
This study empirically examines the associations between legal representation and four key outcomes in mental health courts. The outcomes include whether eligible defendants chose to participate in a municipal mental health court (MMHC); if defendants chose to participate, whether the MMHC resolved their criminal charges without court supervision; whether eligible defendants attended the initial MMHC court hearings; and whether defendants successfully completed the MMHC program. The study included 1012 defendants who were accepted into a MMHC in a state where municipal court defendants do not have to be represented by a defense attorney. We conducted bivariate and logistic regression analyses to identify differences in each of the four outcomes between MMHC defendants who did or did not have a defense attorney. The results of the bivariate and logistic regression analyses found defendants represented by defense attorneys were more likely to choose not to participate in the MMHC, to resolve their criminal charges without court supervision, to participate in initial court hearings, and to successfully complete the MMHC program. All four regression models were statistically significant, although the amount of variance explained was relatively low, ranging from 6% to 13%.
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Linhorst, D. M., Kondrat, D. C., Eikenberry, J., & Dirks-Linhorst, A. P. (2022). The role of mental health courts in mitigating family violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Online first. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520951316
Mental health courts are one potential means to mitigate violence against family members by people with mental illness. This study identified the rate at which cases of family violence come before a mental health court and the success of defendants charged with assaulting family members. In a sample of 1,456 defendants eligible to participate in a mental health court, descriptive statistics were used to report rates of admission of defendants charged with assaulting family members and their characteristics; a static group design was used to compare post-program rearrests among defendants who assaulted family members who successfully completed the program, who did not complete the program, and who did not participate despite being eligible; and logistic regression was used to determine the effect of participation on rearrest when controlling for demographic and clinical factors. The study found that family violence occurred in 24.7% of admitted cases. Most eligible defendants who assaulted family members (75.8%) participated in the court program, and among those who did, 72.2% successfully completed the program. Defendants who assaulted family members and had a positive program termination had a much lower rate of rearrest post-program completion compared with those who did not complete the program or did not participate despite being eligible, a finding that held when controlling for other factors. This study suggests that mental health courts can be an effective option for mitigating family violence committed by people with mental illness
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Kondrat, D. C., Sullivan, W. P., Canada, K. E., & Jaggers, J. w. (2021). The Role of social support and ego network characteristics on quality of life: implications for persons involved with mental health courts. Advances in Social Work. Published.
Mental health courts provide an alternative to jail/prison for persons with severe mental illness who are involved in the criminal justice system. These courts have the dual function of ensuring treatment for persons involved in the court as well as ensuring the safety of the public. Persons with severe mental illness who are involved in mental health courts rely on others for support, such as family members. The supportiveness as well as the composition of one’s network members may play a role in the success of mental health court participants. We explored how the composition and sense of support of network members were associated with mental health court participants’ quality of life. Findings suggest that supportiveness is positively associated with quality of life, and the proportion of family in one’s network was negatively related to quality of life. Findings suggest that persons involved in mental health courts need supportive others in their social networks outside of their family.
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Chonody, J., Kondrat, D. C., Godinez, K., & Kotzian, A. (2020). Job satisfaction amongst social work faculty: The role of relationships. Journal of Social Work Education, 1-15. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2021.2019638
Faculty retention is paramount given the steep financial investment required for recruitment. To study factors associated with job satisfaction, participants (N=591) were recruited from the Council on Social Work Education’s membership. Results indicated that greater job satisfaction was most strongly associated with colleague and administration satisfaction and satisfaction with pay (not salary) explaining 57% of the variance. An analysis on salary indicated that the number of years in academia had the greatest effect size. Content analysis of an open-ended item revealed that dissatisfaction with administration and leadership was the most frequent reason for someone wanting to leave their position. Results suggested that relationship building is at the heart of job satisfaction, and investments in the climate may facilitate retention.
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Jaggers, J., & Kondrat, D. C. (2019). Research at Work: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Families in Society. Published. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/1044389419862112
This article provides an overview of the systematic review and the meta-analysis. These tools provide a comprehensive picture of current research. What follows is an abridged explanation of each of these techniques. This approach is intended to provide a fundamental overview for social work practitioners, so that they may more readily access important research, while minimizing the time spent doing so.
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Fultz, A. J., & Kondrat, D. C. (2018). Privilege, white identity, and motivation: A call to action in social work. Journal of Progressive Human Service, online. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1080/10428232.2018.1525236
Understanding how privilege is constructed and reconstructed over time is imperative to move toward a more just society. White fragility and tactics used to avoid race-based stress sustains privilege. The roots of Fragility are examined through the lens of three White identity theoretical models: the White Identity Development Process Model, the White Racial Identity Model, and the White Male Identity Development Model. Further, motivation theories are explored to tie privilege, White identity, and social work together cohesively. Recommendations for social work education, research, and practice are given for combating prejudice and racism.
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Resko, S. M., Mountain, S. K., Brown, S., Kondrat, D. C., & Kral, M. (2018). Suicidal ideation and attempts among women seeking treatment for substance use and trauma symptoms, . Health and Social Work. Published. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hly004
Substance use disorders and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have been associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The present study examines rates and correlates of suicidal ideation and attempts among women seeking treatment for substance use and trauma at seven outpatient substance use treatment programs. The sample included women between ages 18-65 (mean=39.2 sd=9.3) and was 44% White; 33% African American; 8% Latina and 15% other races/ethnicities. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with a lifetime history of recurrent suicidal ideation and a serious suicide attempt. Age at onset of PTSD symptoms (OR = 0.97), presence of an alcohol use disorder (OR = 1.9), being prescribed medications for psychological/emotional problems (OR = 2.6), and not meeting study eligibility criteria (OR = 2.2) were associated with recurrent suicidal ideation. Older age (OR = 0.97), meeting full PTSD criteria (OR = 2.6), being prescribed medication for psychological/emotional problems (OR = 1.8), experiencing more types of traumas (OR = 1.1) and not meeting eligibility criteria (OR = 2.2) were associated with suicide attempts. Findings highlight the need for social workers to address elevated risk levels for suicidal thoughts and behaviors when working with women with histories of substance use and trauma.
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Kondrat, D. C., Sullivan, W. P., Wilkins, B., Barrett, B. J., & Beerbower, E. (2018). The mediating effects of social support on the relationship between the impact of experienced stigma and mental health . Stigma and Health, online first. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/sah0000103
Objective: The impact of stigma and discrimination against persons with mental illness is well documented. Less well researched are the interpersonal and intrapersonal mechanisms that mediate how acts of discrimination impact persons with mental illness, specifically social support. Past research has focused on the buffering, or moderating impact of perceived social support. We hypothesize that perceived social support is a psychological process, changed by interactions with the outside world, including stressful interactions. In this study, we explore perceived social support as a mediator between experienced discrimination and mental health. Methods: We used data from a subset of the Canadian Community Health – Mental Health survey. We tested the mediating role of the social support using the bootstrapped estimate of the 95% confidence interval of the indirect effect. We also tested the buffering hypothesis of social support Results: The results suggest that perceived social support does mediate the relationship between experienced discrimination and mental health. The buffering hypothesis did not hold. Conclusions: Results suggest a new way to view social support, that as a mediating variable. Further, the results provide insights into the importance of intervening to impact stigma for persons with mental illness.
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Kondrat, D. C., Linhorst, D. M., Linhorst, A. P., & Horning, A. (2018). An analysis of readmissions to a mental health court . An Analysis of Readmissions to a Mental Health Court. , 42(3), 237-250. https://doi.org/doi: 10.1093/swr/svy014
Mental health courts have emerged as one option to address the needs of people with severe mental illness who enter the criminal justice system. Little is known about defendants having multiple referrals to mental health courts or the outcomes of the subsequent admissions. This study included a sample of 1,084 defendants referred to municipal mental health court. During the 13-year study period, 14.3% of defendants had a second admission, with an estimated probability of readmission of 17.4%. Key factors associated with readmission included being eligible to participate in the court but choosing not to do so, being rearrested during court supervision, and having a negative termination from supervision. Defendants who had a second admission during the study period had poorer outcomes than those with one admission. When defendants are referred for readmission to mental health courts, careful assessment is required to ensure that these courts are the best alternative for them.
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Jaggers, J. W., Brown, E., Kondrat, D. C., Hall, J. A., & Aalsma, M. C. (2018). Contextual Factors Influencing Recommendations for Service Provision by Guardia ad litem and Court Appointed Special Advocates . Families in Society. Published. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/1044389418784963
The purpose of this study is to assess if county level variables impact the variability of services offered to children who are under the case of a GAL/CASA in Indiana. An email survey was sent to GAL/CASA inviting them to participate in the study. A total of 473 GAL/CASA completed the survey with 437 meeting criteria for the study. Our sample represents 33 of 92 Indiana counties. We found the number and types of services ordered were strongly influenced by county contextual characteristics. Families served by a GAL/CASA in urban counties with more poverty received more services. In contrast, families with a GAL/CASA residing in counties with a greater percentage of minorities generated fewer services. Future research should focus on why environmental conditions influence GAL/CASA recommendations for services. Lastly, the relationship between the GAL/CASA race and the race of the families they serve should be explored.
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Charles, J. L., Holly, L., & Kondrat, D. C. (2017). Addressing our own biases: Social work educators’ experiences with students with mental health conditions. Social Work Education Journal. Published.
The International Federation of Social Workers charges professionals with challenging “discrimination. . . and. . . unjust policies and practices” that impact individuals with mental disabilities. Social work educators thus have a duty to prepare students for anti-oppressive practice with people with mental health conditions (MHCs), a population that experiences microaggressions. To fulfill this duty, educators can endorse cultural humility, which involves a commitment to critical self-reflection, recognizing the subjectivity of cultures, and challenging inequalities. This qualitative study of 264 social work faculty addresses two research questions: (1) Do social work educators report classroom climates and personal reactions reflecting microaggressions toward students with MHCs? (2) Do educators practice cultural humility in the classroom and in other interactions with these students? Findings include that participants engaged in both cultural humility and (unintentional) mental illness microaggressions. By practicing cultural humility, educators might learn how to avoid microaggressions by, for example, facilitating the development of supportive classroom environments, particularly when students disclose; encouraging critical self-reflection; and guiding students to address systemic discrimination.
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Watson, A. C., Fulambarker, A., Kondrat, D. C., Holley, L. C., Kranke, D., Wilkins, B. T., Stromwall, L. K., & Eack, S. M. (2017). Social Work Faculty and Mental Illness Stigma. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(2), 174-186. View Publication For Social Work Faculty and Mental Illness Stigma
Stigma is a significant barrier to recovery and full community inclusion for people with mental illnesses. Social work educators can play critical roles in addressing this stigma, yet little is known about their attitudes. Social work educators were surveyed about their general attitudes about people with mental illnesses, attitudes about practice with people with mental illnesses, and attitudes about students with mental illnesses. On average, educators’ general and practice attitudes were not negative. However, respondents did view a student with a mental illness differently from a “typical social work student.” Findings suggest that we, as social work educators, must raise our awareness and address our own attitudes to support students and uphold
Kondrat, D. C., & Jagger, J. (2016). Research at work: Understanding regression tables in research studies. Families in Society, 97(2), 141-148. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.2016.97.17Understanding and interpreting regression tables is not the exclusive purview of academics. Social workers and allied professionals in micro and macro practice, regardless of whether they are undergraduate or graduate trained, can use the information provided in a research article to make informed decisions about practice and assessment. Regression tables are interpretable once the reader has a basic understanding of regression terms, tables, and criteria for causal inferences. While not an exhaustive discussion of multiple regression, this overview functions as a heuristic understanding for how to interpret multiple regression tables and statistics, and provides a framework for drawing causal inferences.
Salloum, A., Kondrat, D. C., Johnco, C., & Olson, K. R. (2015). The role of self-care on compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary trauma among child welfare workers. Children and Youth Services Review, 49, 54-61. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.12.023Child welfare workers are routinely exposed to multiple traumatic events when working with children and families, and are at an increased risk of experiencing burnout and secondary trauma. Self-care is often recommended as a restorative or protective activity against the negative effects of working with traumatized
Sullivan, W. P., Kondrat, D. C., & Floyd, D. (2015). The Pleasures and Pain of Mental Health Case Management. Social Work In Mental Health, 13(4), 349-364. https://doi.org/http://www.tandfonline.com/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1080/15332985.2014.955942Among mental health case managers, burnout is rife and turnover rates are high, resulting in significant costs to agencies and compromising service quality. This study examines sources of frustration and satisfaction among case managers and the potential
Linhorst, D. M., Kondrat, D. C., & Dirks-Linhorst, P. A. (2015). Rearrests During Mental Health Court Supervision: Predicting Rearrest and Its Association with Final Court Disposition and Postcourt Rearrests. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 54(7), 486-501. https://doi.org/doi=10.1080/10509674.2015.1076105Mental health courts are one means to address the involvement of persons with mental illness in the criminal justice system. Using a sample of 811 participants of a municipal mental health court,
Kondrat, D. C., Swanke, J. R., Littlewood, K., & Strozier, A. (2015). Measuring social support among kinship care givers: Confirming the factor structure of the family support scale . Child Welfare, 93(3), 93-110.Kinship caregiving is a growing and viable form of care for children who would otherwise enter the foster care system. Having a supportive social network is essential to help kin- ship caregivers meet the complex and stressful demands of caring for a young relative, especially the informal kinship caregivers who care for children outside the supervision of the child welfare system. key Family Support Scale (FSS), which was initially developed for families of children with developmental disabilities, is a promising assessment tool for measuring social support among kinship caregivers. key researchers’ previous research on the FSS among informal kinship caregivers (2012) suggested that the assessment tool consisted of four latent factors: Spouse/Partner’s Family and Peers, Formal Professional Sup- port, Informal Community Support, and Familial and Peer Support.
Brown, E. C., Winter, D., & Kondrat, D. C. Bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs of adolescents and young adults with life-threatening illnesses: Implications for social work practice. Social Work in Health Care., 57(4), 250-266. View Publication For Bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs of adolescents and young adults with life-threatening illnesses: Implications for social work practiceThis paper explores the biopsychosocial and spiritual needs of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with life-threatening or terminal illnesses. AYA are situated between childhood and adulthood (ages 15–25) and have distinct biopsychosocial and spiritual needs unique to their developmental stage. Having a life-threatening or terminal illness directly challenges normal AYA developmental tasks and identity formation. AYA experience more troubling physical symptoms during the dying process compared to other age groups, which leads to significant psychological distress and an increased need for pharmacological treatments. In general, AYA desire to be fully informed and involved in the health care decision-making process, leading to ethical dilemmas when the AYA is a minor and their wishes differ from the wishes of their legal guardian(s). Social workers are especially well-equipped to serve this population due to aligning professional standards and ability to advocate for holistic care within interdisciplinary teams. Additional research is needed to tailor holistic interventions to meet the needs of this population.
Presentations
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Chonondy, J., & Kondrat, D. C. (2019). Commission on research Connect session: Predictors of Job Satisfaction among Social Work Academics. Council on Social Work Education, Denver, CO United States.
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Kondrat, D. C., & Canada, K. (2018). The impact of personal network characteristics on quality-of-life in mental health courts. Council on Social Work Education, Orlando, FL United States.
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Kondrat, D. C., & Charles, J. (2018). Providers and Client Experience of Mental Health Discrimination in Healthcare Settings. Council on Social Work Education, Orlando, FL.
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Fultz, A. J., & Kondrat, D. C. (2018). Discussing Privilege and Power in a Post-Divided World: Change is Necessary. Council on Social Work Education, Orlando, FL United States.
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Kondrat, D. C. (2017). Stigma and Health. Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
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Wilkerson, D. A., Wolfe-Taylor, S. N., & Kondrat, D. C. (2017). Preparing Social Workers for Technology Mediated Practice in the Digital. Council on Social Work Education, Dallas, TX United States.
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Kondrat, D. C., & Beerbower, E. (2017). Trauma: Understanding Reasons Consumers Who Are Homeless Prematurely Exit Assertive Community Treatment. Council on Social Work Education, Dallas, TX United States.
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Charles, J., Holley, L., & Kondrat, D. C. (2017). Addressing Our Own Biases: Social Work Educator’s Experience with Students with Mental Illness. (. Society for Social Work and Research, New Orleans , LA United States.
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Kondrat, D. C., & Charles, J. K. (2016). Factors Related to Perception of Mental Health Discrimination in Health Care Settings. Council on Social Work Education, Atlanta, GA United States.
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Kondrat, D. C., & Brady, E. (2016). Social Microvolunteering: An innovation for empowering social workers and clients through social support networks. Council on Social Work Education, Inianapolis, IN United States.
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Kondrat, D. C., Sullivan, W. P., Teater, B., & Wilkins, B. (2016). Modeling Processes of Recovery in Mental Illness: Mediating Effects of Social Support on the Relationship Between Experienced Stigma and Positive Mental Health. Society for Social Work and Research, Washington , DC United States.
Background/purpose: Experienced stigma is a reality for persons with mental illness, representing a significant obstacle to recovery above the effects of often debilitating symptoms. Stigma stops persons with mental illness from seeking or following through with treatment. Further, stigma interferes with the life chances of persons with mental illness, including finding housing, employment and meaningful relationships. In contrast, social support represents a protective factor for persons with mental illness. Having social support buffers persons from the effects of negative social and psychological events. For example, research suggests that social support mediates the effects of stress on symptoms of mental illness. We hypothesize that social support will mediate the effects of public stigma on mental health. Methods: Data for this research came from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Data were collected using a two-step random sampling procedure. We used a subsample of participants who had received mental health treatment in the past 12 months (n = 2,105). We used the recommended sample weights to derive estimates for each model. The dependent variable was the mental health, which was measured using the 14 item Mental Health Continuum – Short Form. Stigma, the independent variable, was measured using an eight item modified form of the Impact Scale of the Inventory of the Stigmatizing Experience. The eight items relate to situations in which participants might experience discrimination. The mediating variable, social support, was measured using the 10 item social provision scale. Controlling for age, gender, marital status, substance abuse, and mental health diagnosis, we used multivariate regression analysis. We used two approaches for estimating and testing the indirect effect, the Sobel test and bootstrapping (1,000 samples with replacement). Results: The mediating model explained 38% of the variance in mental health, which was 17% more variance than the model without social support – the mediator. The mediation hypothesis was tentatively confirmed. The Sobel test was significant (z = -7.98, p<.01). The 95% bootstrapped confidence interval of the indirect effect was -.13 to -.073. Stigma was negatively related to mental health (t=3.36, p<.05); Stigma was negatively related to social support (t = -8.51, p <.01); and social support was positively related to mental health (t=23.21, p<.01). Conclusions/Implications: The findings support past research on the buffering effect of social support on negative social and psychological events. While social support mediated the effects of experienced stigma on mental health, the relationship was not perfect. More research is needed to determine other possible mediators. While imperfect, the mediating role of social support was not insignificant. Mental health social workers are encouraged to help their clients develop meaningful social supports in the community, especially social supports outside of the mental health system of care.
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Kondrat, D. C., & Goscha, R. (2016). Recovery and Work: The Association of Case Managers ‘Perception of Consumer Work Readiness with Employment. Sociaty for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC United States.
Background/purpose: Many individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI) view meaningful employment as an essential part of recovery and desire to work. Yet, persons with SMI have high rates of unemployment. While there are many factors associated with unemployment for individuals with mental illnesses, no studies have explored the impact of direct service workers’ perceptions as a factor. Case managers are often the direct service workers most likely to help an individual work toward employment-related goals. Attitudes case managers hold about what it takes for a consumer to be “ready” for work may serve as a catalyst or a barrier to employment. The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which case managers perceptions of work readiness are associated with consumer employment
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Resko, S. M., Kruman Mountain, S., Brown, S., Kondrat, D. C., & , M. K. (2016). Suicidal Ideation and Attempts Among Women Seeking Treatment for Substance Use and Trauma. Society for Social Work and Research, Washington, DC United States.
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Kondrat, D. C., Sullivan, W. P., Goscha, R., & Mateikowski, J. (2015). Advancing Recovery and Shared Decision Making. Council on Social Work Education, Denver, CO United States.
Contract Fellowship Grants
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Recovery Roadmap: A Collaborative Multimedia Tool for Person Centered Recovery Planning. National Institute of mental health
Program Director (PD)/Principal Investigator (PI): Kathleen Ferrara
Co-PD/PI: David Kondrat
Institutional Services
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Committee Chair
2021 - IUSSW Faculty Senate -
Committee Chair
2018 - PhD CommitteeRun meetings -
Committee Member
2016 - Budgetary Affairs Committeeattend meetings and report back to faculty in the School of Social Work -
Committee Chair
2016 - MSW committeeRun MSW Committee, participate in curriculum development, work with each MSW curriculum subgroup, report to faculty senate. -
Committee Chair
2016 - 2016-2017 Search and screen committeeHelp in the recruitment of new tenure track faculty. Provide recommendations to the dean for potential new hires -
Committee Chair
2015 - Diversity CommitteeCo-facilitate meetings liaison between committee and dean develop and review statements on social justice developed by others oversaw development of a diversity plan -
Committee Chair
2015 - leaderhip concentation committeeCo-chair of committee, ran meetings, help shape direction of curriculum -
Committee Member
2015 - 2015-2016 Search and Screen Committeerecruitment of future tenure track faculty interviewed possible candidates at conferences participated in campus interview process -
Committee Chair
2021 - Search and Screen Committee -
Committee Chair
2023 - MSW program DirectorsMeet monthly to work on problems that affect the MSW program across campuses. -
Committee Member
2022 - Dean's leadership groupMeet monthly to discuss relevant issues related to the school. -
Committee Member
2022 - Program Directors meetingMeet monthly to discuss program updates.
Develop policy for the school. -
Committee Member
2022 - Program Review and Assessment CommitteeAttend meetings and provide feedback.
Member of the Reporting and Recognition Subcommittee. We review reports for a select number of departments
Memberships
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Council on Social Work Education
2003 to Present
Professional Services
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Editor, Associate Editor
2018 to 2021 - Associate Editor of Families in SocietyI help move manuscripts through the review process, and I make final decisions regarding manuscripts
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Member
2015 to 2021 - CSWE Council on Researchprovide oversight to CSWE on matters of research
Public Services
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Board Member
2020 to Present - SOAR case management INC -
Board of Directors
2014 to 2019 - KEY conumer Organization Board of DirectorsProvide oversight to KEY Review budget help with program development
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