The Influence of an Organization on Strategies to Handle Emotions of Social Workers Working with Vulnerable Children in the Czech Republic

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our research was to understand the influence of an organization on the strategies to handle emotions of social workers working with vulnerable children. DESIGN: The research was carried out using a qualitative research strategy. PARTICIPANTS: The research participants were 30 field social workers working with vulnerable children and their families (27 men and 3 women). The average length of practice was 7 years; the minimum length of practice for an informant to be included in the research was 12 months. METHODS: The research included 30 in-depth interviews with the informants thematically oriented on emotions and their functioning in the practice of social work with vulnerable children. The data was analyzed using grounded theory of A. Clarke. RESULTS: Setting rules for expressing emotions has an influence in an organization on the creation of positive/negative strategies to handle emotions. CONCLUSION: Emotions in social work are of a very complex and interactive nature and they are not addressed enough either in the practice or in the research of social work.