Experiences of in-person violence and cyberviolence against child welfare workers in Canada

Datos Bibliográficos

ID10895605
AutoresCheryl Regehr (0000-0001-7814-7836, University of Toronto), Rachael Lefebvre (0000-0002-1007-4252, University of Toronto), Barbara Fallon (0000-0003-3654-992X, University of Toronto), Faye Mishna (0000-0003-2538-826X, University of Toronto), Jeffrey Schiffer (Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada , 25 Spadina Road , Toronto), Mary Baginsky (0000-0002-8763-2363, NIHR Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit, Policy Institute, King’s College London , 22 Kingsway , London), Ravit Alfandari (0000-0003-4054-6262, University of Haifa)
Año2025
Volumen56
Número4
Páginas1420-1441
Fecha de publicación2025-09-20
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe British Journal of Social Work (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0045-3102 • E-ISSN: 1468-263X
EditorialOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/bjsw/bcaf192
OpenAlexW4414371526
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas72

Studies conducted in countries across the world have consistently demonstrated high rates of in-person violence towards social workers, and particularly social workers engaged in challenging areas of practice such as child welfare. More recently, research has focused on the cyberworld as a new avenue for abuse against workers. Employing an online survey, this research sought to compare the experiences and effects of in-person violence and cyberviolence among child welfare workers in Canada; and to better understand the influences of organizational factors on levels of distress experienced by workers. Respondents reported high levels of exposure to in-person violence, as well as high levels of abuse and threats through digital means. Among various forms of in-person violence, threats were associated with the highest level of traumatic stress symptoms. Other factors that were associated with traumatic stress were perceptions of organizational support and experiences of burnout, particularly emotional exhaustion, which was the best predictor of traumatic stress scores related to both in-person and cyberviolence. Given that cyberviolence is a new area of study, further research is necessary to more fully understand the ability of the workplace environment to mitigate harmful aspects of this recent form of workplace violence

Child abuse · Distress · Domestic violence · Occupational safety and health · Perception · Social Welfare · Welfare · Homelessness and Social Issues · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work