Resiliens – ett skydd mot konsekvenserna av arbetsrelaterat hot och våld i socialtjänsten

Sammanfattning: Background: Social-workers exposure to client violence is recognized as a prevalent hazard for subsequent mental illness, and occurs partly due to organizational shortcomings with a disparity between demands and resources. Resilience is viewed as an ability to manage adversity, providing protection against mental illness due to workplace violence (WPV). Purpose: To distinguish experiences of WPV, mental illness and resilience among municipal socialworkers’ in Sweden, and determine the association between mental illness, WPV and resilience.  Methods: A cross-sectional study of 186 social-workers was conducted using an internet-based survey. Questions from the Resilience scale, Maslach’s burnout inventory and General Health Questionnaire were used. Descriptive data was created, bivariate analysis and linear regression conducted including items as mental illness, resilience and WPV analysed using resilience theory.  Results: Almost every socialworker (93%) had experienced WPV. Verbal violence most common occurring as a reaction, although prevalence, severity and fear towards exposure was relatively low. Respondents appeared both resilient and in good mental health. Increasing WPV correlated with a higher degree of mental illness (B= 1,345). Mental illness decreased when resilience increased (B= -,727). Resilience may constitute an important tool for social-workers and social services, to manage consequenses of WPV and develop sustainable social work practice.