UC Spark

Associate Professor Kate van Heugten

Human Services and Social Work; School of Social and Political Sciences

Fields of Research

  • Workplace stress
  • Workplace violence, including workplace bullying
  • Sociology of the professions
  • Mental health, psychotherapy and clinical social work
  • Human development
  • Loss, grief and mourning
  • Health and disability studies
  • Earthquake research

Researcher Summary

I am currently engaged in research into workplace stress in the human services in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Additional research interests include workplace bullying; the impact of neoliberalisation and globalisation on social science education and on work in the human services; loss, grief and mourning; interpersonal violence; and mental health issues.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Future Research

  • Stress and work
  • Workplace bullying
  • Trauma and resilience
  • Sociology of the professions

Key Methodologies

  • Qualitative research, including Situational Analysis; Grounded Theory; Narrative Methodologies
  • User of QSR NVivo

Affiliations

Research Service

  • Chair College of Arts Research Committee (2009-2010)

Publications


Authored Book
  • van Heugten, K. (2011) Social Work Under Pressure: How to Overcome Stress, Fatigue and Burnout in the Workplace. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 224pp.
Journal Article
  • van Heugten, K. (2013) Supporting human service workers following the Canterbury earthquakes. Aotearoa NZ Social Work Review (in press)
  • van Heugten, K. (2010) Bullying of Social Workers: Outcomes of a Grounded Study into Impacts and Interventions. British Journal of Social Work 40: 638-655. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcp003.
  • van Heugten, K. and Wilson, E. (2008) Building resilience in young people who have witnessed intimate partner violence. Te Awatea Review 6(2): 9-13.
  • van Heugten, K. (2008) Looking back on looking forward: Re-introducing Merv Hancock's article ten years on. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work 20(2): 76.
  • van Heugten, K. and Wilson, E. (2008) Witnessing intimate partner violence: Review of the literature on coping in young persons. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work 20(3): 52-62.
  • van Heugten, K. (2007) Research focus: Workplace bullying of social workers. Te Awatea Review 5(1): 22.
  • van Heugten, K. and Jones, J. (2007) Women's rights officers and women-only spaces: Addressing women's oppression on tertiary campuses. Te Awatea Review 4(1): 3-6.
  • van Heugten, K. (2007) Workplace bullying of social workers. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work 19(1): 14-24.
  • van Heugten, K. (2004) Co-worker violence toward social workers: Too hard to handle? Social Work Review 16(4): 66-73.
  • van Heugten, K. and Rathgen, E. (2003) From studentship to professional social worker: Factors in a successful transition. Social Work Review 15(1/2): 13-17.
  • van Heugten, K. and Daniels, K. (2002) Social Workers Who Move from Agency Employment to Private Practice. Part II: Issues, Challenges, and Implications. Social Work Review 14(1): 4-9.
  • van Heugten, K. (2002) Social Workers Who Move to Private Practice: Ideological Considerations as a Factor in the Transition. Families in Society 83(5/6): 465-473.
  • van Heugten, K. (2001) Aspects of the Early Life Histories of Social Workers in Private Practice: From Marginality to Reflective Practice. Psychoanalytic Social Work 8(2): 57-78.
  • van Heugten, K. and Daniels, K. (2001) Social Workers Who Move from Agency Employment to Private Practice. Part I: A Study of their Motivations. Social Work Review 13(4): 15-21.
  • van Heugten, K. and Daniels, K. (2001) Social Workers Who Move into Private Practice: The Impact of the Socio-Economic Context. British Journal of Social Work 31(5): 739-755. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/31.5.739.
Chapter in Book
  • van Heugten, Kate. (2013) Thriving at work: Preventing occupational stress. In M. Connolly and L. Harms (Ed.), Social work: Contexts and practice (3rd ed.): 395-406. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
  • van Heugten, K. (2012) Workplace stress in the aftermath of a natural disaster (New Zealand). In N. Hall (Ed.), Social work around the world V: Building the global agenda for social work and social development: 41-52. Berne: IFSW Publications.
  • van Heugten, K. (2009) Thriving at work: Preventing Occupational Stress. In M. Connolly and L. Harms (Ed.), Social Work Contexts and Practice (2nd ed.): 437-450. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
  • van Heugten, K. (2004) Violence: The Personal and Professional Self. In M. Connolly (Ed.), Violence in Society: New Zealand Perspectives: 111-123. Christchurch: Te Awatea Press.
  • van Heugten, K. (2003) The benefits of "being different": Marginality and its contributions to reflective social science and social work. In L.M. Stoneham (Ed.), Advances in Sociology Research (Vol. 1 ed.): 73-92. New York: Nova Science.
  • van Heugten, K. (2001) Social work: Its role and task. In M. Connolly (Ed.), New Zealand Social Work: Context and Practice: 3-17. Auckland: Oxford University Press.
Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings
  • van Heugten, K. (2002) The Impact of a Sense of 'Being Different' on the Professional Identity of Social Workers in Private Practice. Lisbon, Portugal: ICAPP 41st Annual Clinical Conference: Diversity: A Fact, An Obstacle, An Insight: The Clinical Impact of Culture and Language, 8-13 Jun 2002. 139-156.
Conference Contribution - Full conference paper
  • van Heugten, K., Kelly, S. and Stanley, T. (2013) Taking a sociological approach to oppression in the neoliberal human services workplace: The practice gains. Aalborg University, Denmark: International Conference on Sociology and Social Work. The interaction between sociology and social work: Creativity, Cooperation and Knowledge, 30-31 May 2013. http://tinyurl.com/cvmf9sa.
  • van Heugten, K. (2011) Social work and sociology: Visiting the relatives. Lisbon, Portugal: International Seminar on Sociology and Social Work, 27-28 May 2011.
  • van Heugten, K. (2010) Engaging bystanders as change agents in workplace bullying. University of Glamorgan, Cardiff, UK: 7th International Conference on Workplace Bullying and Harassment, 2-4 Jun 2010.
Conference Contribution - Oral presentation
  • van Heugten, K. (2012) Challenges and rewards of working in the human services in the aftermath of the Canterbury Earthquakes 2010/2011. Christchurch, New Zealand: University of Canterbury Earthquake Research Forum, 5 Jun 2012. https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/8332.
  • van Heugten, K. (2006) Space for women on campus (Invited). Dunedin, New Zealand: NZUSA Women's Conference, 31 Aug 2006.
  • van Heugten, K. (2006) Workplace bullying of social workers: research report. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers Conference: Keeping our balance Kia mau ki te Hono, 24-25 Nov 2006.
Oral Presentation
  • van Heugten, K. (2012) Caring for ourselves as helping professionals: Managing stress and avoiding burnout post earthquake. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: Seminar: Career Development Association of New Zealand, Canterbury & Westland Branch, 25 Jul 2012.
  • van Heugten, K. (2012) The aftermath of a natural disaster: Workplace stress in human services. Christchurch, New Zealand: Mental Health Education Resource Centre: Christchurch earthquakes seminar series, 29 Oct 2012.
  • van Heugten, K. (2012) What If we could reduce workplace stress in Canterbury? University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: "What if" Wednesdays, 22 Aug 2012.
  • van Heugten, K. (2012) Workplace resilience and the Canterbury earthquakes: The long haul. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: Inland Revenue Department People Leaders Seminar, 22 Nov 2012.
  • van Heugten, K. (2012) Workplace stress in the human services in the aftermath of a natural disaster. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, Canterbury Branch, Seminar, 11 Jun 2012.
  • van Heugten, K. (2010) The Impact of Bullying in the Health Sector, and the Potentially Positive Roles of Bystanders. Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand: Multidisciplinary Grand Round, 6 Jul 2010.
  • van Heugten, K. (2009) Workplace bullying of social workers: Beyond cause and effect to prevention and intervention. Wellington, New Zealand: ANZASW Congress, 17 Apr 2009.
  • van Heugten, K. (2009) Workplace Bullying: Considering the Place of Bystanders. Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch: Professional Development Seminar, 29 Oct 2009.
  • Prasad, R. and van Heugten, K. (2008) Violence in New Zealand Society (Invited). University of Otago, Christchurch School of Medicine, New Zealand: Mid-Winter Dialogues, 4 Jul 2008.
  • van Heugten, K. (2007) Relationships in research: Presentation on behalf of Social Science Research Centre. Burwood Academy of Independent Living, Christchurch: Burwood Academy Workshop to Establish an Academic Framework, 11 May 2007.
  • van Heugten, K. (2006) Workplace bullying of social workers. Dunedin, New Zealand: Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers Dunedin Core Group Seminar, 10 Oct 2006.
  • van Heugten, K. (2005) Workplace Bullying of Social Workers. Brisbane, Australia: University of Queensland, 12 Sep 2005.
Other
  • van Heugten, K. (2008) Director's Report. Te Awatea Review 6(2): 1-2.
  • van Heugten, K. (2008) Director's Report. Te Awatea Review 6(1): 1-2.
  • van Heugten, K. (2007) Beyond Bad Girls: Gender, violence and hype. By Meda Chesney-Lind and Katherine Irwin. Routledge, 2008. Te Awatea Review 5(2): 27. Book Review.
  • van Heugten, K. (2007) Director's Report. Te Awatea Review 5(1): 1-2.
  • van Heugten, K. (2007) Director's Report. Te Awatea Review 5(2): 1-2.
  • van Heugten, K. (2006) Director's Report. Te Awatea Review 4(1): 1-2.
  • van Heugten, K. (2006) Director's Report. Te Awatea Review 4(2): 1-2.
Thesis - Doctor of Philosophy
  • van Heugten, H.M.C. (1999) Social Workers Who Move into Private Practice: A Study of the Issues that Arise for Them. PhD, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.