A satisfação profissional nos assistentes sociais

: um estudo realizado na zona centro

Abstract

This research represents one of the requirements of the MA Program in Social Work at the Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Centro Regional das Beiras (Polo de Viseu) and focuses on job satisfaction of social workers. The theoretical approach has shown that the conceptual construct of job satisfaction emerged in the context of valuing work and was applied to different professionals. In this sequence, bearing in mind the arguments of a different nature, it was considered relevant to replicate this area of research with social service professionals (social workers), one of the professions of social work historically consolidated in Portugal. In a society marked by the globalization process of rethinking the role of the state and its social functions, social workers are currently facing increasing challenges and contraints in their everyday practice, leading sometimes to contradictions or dilemmas of action that are reflected in their job satisfaction. Predictors of job satisfaction were subdivided into two categories: the characteristics of the professionals themselves and job factors. The principal objectives of this research are to measure the degree of job satisfaction of social workers and identify those factors which are related to it. At the methodological level, a quantitative approach was chosen whereby a questionnaire was completed by 54 social workers who worked in the central zone of Portugal. The main results show that the social workers who were surveyed expressed moderate job satisfaction. The quality of supervision, autonomy and financial rewards stand out as predictors, with a strong and statistically significant association with job satisfaction. In terms of more personal characteristics such as work experience, age, employment status and type of employer, no statistically significant correlations were found with job satisfaction.

Date of Award	22 Jan 2016
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Francisco Branco (Supervisor)