Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment among Ontario’s Social Workers in Health and Aging (2008-2009)
Principal Investigator: Kelsey Simons, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto
Funded by: SSHRC Standard Research Grant
The current and future supply of social workers in aging is influenced not only by the number of students that graduate and gain employment in this area, but by the amount of experienced professionals that can be retained long-term. The latter point is critical, as a recent survey by the Ontario Association of Social Workers found that most social workers in the province report high levels of work-related stress, with many also experiencing depressive-type symptoms related to their stress (OASW, 2006). To date, there have been no comprehensive studies of gerontological social workers in Canada that can enhance understanding of their employment conditions and training needs. To address this gap in knowledge, this study aims to: 1) Identify factors influencing the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of social workers in health and aging settings in Ontario; 2) Provide descriptive information regarding Ontario’s social work workforce in health and aging including professional, demographic, and employment characteristics. A theoretical model of job satisfaction and organizational commitment will be tested with members of the OASW whose caseloads are primarily comprised of seniors aged 65 or older and data will be collected relative to social workers’ training, job experience, and levels of geriatric knowledge and skill level for competent practice. All data will be collected via an online survey.