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Katz C, Jacobson M, Priolo Filho SR, Goldfarb D, Liu J, Zibetti MR, Varela N, Attrash Najjar A, Bérubé A, Collin-Vézina D, Maguire-Jack K, Massarweh N, Munir A, Tiwari A, Wekerle C. Examining resilience among child protection professionals during COVID-19: A global comparison across 57 countries. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024:106659. [PMID: 38326165 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic led to numerous challenges for child protection professionals (CPPs). However, limited research has investigated the interwoven concepts of coping, resilience, and mental distress among CPPs during COVID-19 on a global scale. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore CPPs' practice, resilience, and mental distress during COVID-19, the relationship between their resilience and mental distress, the global stability of the Multi-System Model of Resilience (MSMR), and how CPPs' resilience varied according to the Human Development Index (HDI). METHODS Data were collected from 420 CPPs in 57 countries across five continents between July and September 2021. Participants completed an online questionnaire on demographics, resilience, mental distress, coping, and perceptions of child protection during the pandemic in their native languages. The analyses compared the countries grouped according to HDI using means comparisons, correlations, and multiple linear regressions. A two-path analysis was also performed to identify variables associated with behavioral resilience engagement and mental distress. RESULTS The findings indicated that CPPs' perceptions of COVID-19's impact on child maltreatment varied in correlation with their country's HDI. There were also significant HDI-based differences regarding the perceived opportunity to engage in resilient behavior and its helpfulness. Years of professional experience, internal resilience, and external resilience were shown to be significant predictors of mental distress among CPPs during the pandemic, and resilience mediated how years of experience predicted mental distress. CONCLUSIONS This study emphasized the importance of experience and internal resilience for CPPs' psychological well-being. It also provides empirical evidence to support the MSMR theory on a global scale. Additionally, it demonstrates how the perceived changes in child maltreatment during COVID-19 may be associated with regional HDI. Lastly, the opportunities CPPs had to engage in resilient behavior and how much this helped them was associated with regional HDI, but not in the way originally predicted. Study results also hold implications for how practice and policy may be altered to help CPPs cope better during times of crisis and generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmit Katz
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978, Israel.
| | - Ma'ayan Jacobson
- Haruv Institute, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Sidnei R Priolo Filho
- Laboratório de Pesquisa, Prevenção e Intervenção em Psicologia Forense, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
| | | | - Jenny Liu
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
| | | | | | - Afnan Attrash Najjar
- Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978, Israel.
| | - Annie Bérubé
- The Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Canada.
| | - Delphine Collin-Vézina
- The Centre for Research on Children and Families, McGill University, Suite 106, Wilson Hall, 3506 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7, Canada.
| | - Kathryn Maguire-Jack
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | | | - Akhtar Munir
- Department of Social Work, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.
| | - Ashwini Tiwari
- Augusta University, CJ2300 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912; USA.
| | - Christine Wekerle
- The Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W. - MIP 201A, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
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Priolo Filho SR, Chae H, Bhakta A, Moura BR, Correia BB, Santos JDS, Sieben TL, Goldfarb D. A qualitative analysis of child protection professionals' challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023; 143:106229. [PMID: 37271117 PMCID: PMC10160522 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Child Protection Professionals (CPPs) play a key role in providing insights into the child protection system and how it can best support children's right to personal security, particularly during trying times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative research provides one potential tool to tap into this knowledge and awareness. This research thus expanded earlier qualitative work on CPPs' perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on their work, including potential struggles and barriers, into the context of a developing country. METHODS A total of 309 CPPs from all five regions in Brazil answered demographics, pandemic-related resilient behaviors, and open-ended questions regarding their profession during the pandemic. RESULTS Data went through a three-step process of analysis: (1) pre-analysis; (2) category creation; and (3) coding of responses. Five categories emerged from the analysis: the Pandemic's Impact on CPPs' Work; the Impact of the Pandemic on CPP-Involved Families; Occupational Concerns during the Pandemic; Politics and the Pandemic; and Vulnerability due to the Pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Our qualitative analyses showed the pandemic resulted in increased challenges for CPPs across several fronts within their workplace. Although each of these categories is discussed separately, they all influenced one another. This highlights the need to continue efforts to support CPPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidnei R Priolo Filho
- Laboratório de Pesquisa, Prevenção e Intervenção em Psicologia Forense, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
| | - Hana Chae
- Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States of America.
| | - Ayesha Bhakta
- Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States of America.
| | - Bárbara Renata Moura
- Laboratório de Pesquisa, Prevenção e Intervenção em Psicologia Forense, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Bianca Borges Correia
- Laboratório de Pesquisa, Prevenção e Intervenção em Psicologia Forense, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Jackeline da Silva Santos
- Laboratório de Pesquisa, Prevenção e Intervenção em Psicologia Forense, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Thaisy Luana Sieben
- Laboratório de Pesquisa, Prevenção e Intervenção em Psicologia Forense, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Deborah Goldfarb
- Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States of America.
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