Work-Related Trauma Effects in Child Protection Social Workers

Abstract

Child welfare workers are exposed to a variety of workplace events that could overwhelm them. This study examined whether negative workplace events were associated with workplace trauma effects amongst child welfare workers, and considered whether job support or job satisfaction moderated the influence of events on effects. Vicarious events were more highly associated with trauma effects (r = 0.54, p < 0.000) than were direct events (r = 0.28, p < 0.000), and neither job support nor job satisfaction moderated the relationship. Workplace trauma events accounted for substantial variability in workplace trauma effects (R2 = 0.344) in the final regression model tested. The discussion addresses opportunities for increasing worker safety, methods for supporting workers in managing negative effects and implications for future research.