ABSTRACT This article discusses social workers’ moral distress associated with privatisation processes in neoliberal transitions. Based on a qualitative study of social workers (N = 15) working in privatised long-term nursing care agencies in Israel, findings revealed multiple expressions of moral distress. The study shows that moral distress relates to four main sources: illegal actions, violation of caregivers’ employment rights and benefits, clashes between professional principles and profit considerations, and harm to elders’ wellbeing. In addition, the study identified three patterns of coping with moral distress: compliance, denial, and resistance. Most participants follow a pattern of compliance and denial and only a minority offer some signs of resistance, mostly through covert actions. Implications for social work education and policy are discussed.

中文翻译：

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道德困境和私有化：在新自由主义转型中迷路

摘要本文讨论了与新自由主义转型中的私有化过程相关的社会工作者的道德困境。根据对在私有化的以色列长期护理机构工作的社会工作者（N = 15）的定性研究，研究结果揭示了道德苦恼的多种表现形式。研究表明，精神困扰与四个主要方面有关：非法行为，侵害照顾者的就业权利和利益，职业原则与利益考虑之间的冲突以及对老年人福利的伤害。此外，研究还确定了应对道德困扰的三种模式：顺从性，拒绝性和抵抗性。大多数参与者遵循遵从和拒绝的模式，只有少数参与者表现出一些抵制的迹象，主要是通过秘密行动。