Job satisfaction of child welfare workers in an urban setting: Status and predictors

Jennifer Sharma, Janet McKelvey, Ron Hardy, Michael H. Epstein, Richard G. Lomax, Paula Jo Hruby

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Large urban areas present many challenges to those children and adults who reside in those settings. The social service workers in urban areas have clients with complex, multiple needs. Reliable and consistent workers are essential to successfully working with these families. In the current study, the job satisfaction of 29 social service workers in an urban child welfare agency was assessed using the Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS). The JSS measures satisfaction in 7 areas of one's job (i.e., work, supervision, coworkers, pay and promotion, work environment, training, and position). Data indicated that the staff were relatively satisfied, that satisfaction did not vary by staff position (family worker vs. social worker/supervisor), and that neither demographic factors nor prior experiences were predictors of job satisfaction. Implications for agency management and the provision of social services to urban families are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)209-219
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Child and Family Studies
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Job Satisfaction Scale
  • Job satisfaction
  • Social service workers
  • Urban child welfare agency

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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