“Det är klart att jag blir upprörd!” : En kvalitativ studie om hur socialsekreterare hanterar egna och andras känslor i ärenden där det förekommer sexuella övergrepp mot barn.

Sammanfattning: This study aimed to gain an understanding of how social workers emotionally dealt with cases where there were suspicion or knowledge of sexual abuse of children occurring. This study was based on six qualitative interviews with social workers within child and youth units at social services in Stockholm County. The theoretical framework was Hochschild’s theory of emotional work. In accordance with previous research, our results showed that emotions in social work are extremely important and that children who have been exposed to sexual abuse cause a more emotional working environment. The social workers wanted to protect the children who had been abused. The results also showed that some form of specialist education should be compulsory required to work with children and to investigate their families and environment.