The Experience of Spouses of Child Protective Social Workers as A Result of Their Work

Child-welfare social workers are specially trained as required by Israel’s Youth Law, and are responsible for protecting at-risk youth. These social workers are exposed to sensitive information and traumatic events, and at times are at risk of attack by a minor’s parents or by groups that protest against the authority given to social workers. Studies have shown that social work has both positive and negative effects on those who choose to work in the field. In terms of positive effects, these studies have focused mainly on personal growth, whereas secondary traumatization has been the focus in terms of negative effects (Borjanić Bolić, 2018; Nelson- Gardell & Harris, 2003; Sprang, Craig & Clark, 2011).

Conflicts in the work-life balance highlight the potential collision between professional obligations and family responsibilities (Edwards & Rothbard, 2000). According to the Spillover-Crossover model, stress caused by work might seep into different aspects of life, such as one's marriage or family life (Bolger, DeLongis, Kessler, & Schilinig, 1989). To the best of our knowledge, no research has yet been conducted about the experience of partners of child-welfare social workers. Thus, in this study we examined how partners experience the way their partners’ work affects them as individuals, and the way it affects their dyadic relationship and parenting.

A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. The study included 15 interviews with male partners of female child-welfare social workers in marital or otherwise long-term relationships. The participants were recruited through social workers' groups on social media, as well as by personally contacting team leaders in social welfare offices across Israel with a request to interview partners of child-welfare social workers.

Four main themes arose from the data analysis:

1) effects on family life, referring to the way in which social workers' work seeps into family life, and how partners deal with these difficulties as a result;

2) effects on couples' relationships, referring to the way in which social workers' needs, due to their line of work, impact their relationships with their partners;

3) effects on partners as individuals, referring to changes in the partners' perceptions and outlook on the world as a result of their partners' work; and

4) institutional and social criticism and recommendations, referring to partners' opinions on the support provided to their partners, as well as their salaries and workload, and their recommendations for improvement.

The study's findings allude to the nature of the work that child-welfare social workers do and to the way in which their work-life boundaries are crossed, thus affecting their partners and family routines. The study's importance lies in its ability to expand the knowledge regarding the way in which trauma therapists’ work affects their lives in general, and more specifically, the way in which the work that child-welfare social workers do affects their families and partners. Practically, this study could lead to the provision of assistance to child-welfare social workers and their partners as needed.