The Relationships among Exposure to Service User Violence, Coping Strategies, and Obstruction of Service Delivery among Taiwanese Child Protection Social Workers
Date Issued
2016
Date
2016
Author(s)
Wang, Yueh
Abstract
Service user violence toward child protection social workers is a widespread phenomenon and an important issue for practitioners, social service agencies, and the social work profession. Although its nature, prevalence, and risk factors are well documented in the literature, there is a dearth of evidence-based studies concerning its impact on practice in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to explore the consequences of such violence upon child protection service delivery and also the effects of different coping strategies and organizational safety support policy. A national survey was conducted with the Client Violence Inventory, Brief COPE Inventory, and Difficult Situations Scale. The sample included 360 child protection social workers in family violence prevention centers in Taiwan. Multiple regression analysis was employed to test the impacts of service user violence on child protection practice in terms of home-visiting and placement decision-making. The results indicated that service user violence, organizational safety support, and different coping strategies contributed to obstruction of child protection service. As suggested by the home-visiting model, as compared to front-line workers, workers in management positions who showed high levels of fear toward service user violence, low levels of organizational safety support perception, high levels of behavioral disengagement, and humor and religious coping were more likely to report high levels of home-visiting obstruction. As revealed by the placement decision-making model, as compared to their female counterparts, male workers who showed high levels of fear, low levels of support perception, high levels of self-distraction, and humor coping were more likely to report high levels of placement decision-making obstruction. The implications of the findings of this study for policy and practice are discussed in detail. Suggestions for further research are also provided.
Subjects
service user violence
client violence
coping
service delivery
child protection social worker
home visiting
placement decision-making
SDGs
Type
thesis
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