MSW Graduates’ Readiness to Respond to Intimate Partner Violence

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to better understand the relationship among factors affecting social workers’ overall readiness to respond to intimate partner violence (IPV) in a sample of recent MSW graduates (N = 205). Findings suggest MSW IPV education and postgraduate IPV training are significantly associated with perceived preparedness and perceived knowledge but not actual knowledge of IPV. Personal experience with IPV was also significantly associated with perceived knowledge but not perceived preparedness. Furthermore, perceived knowledge appears to be positively associated with perceived preparedness. Findings can inform social work educators’ strategies to increase students’ perceived preparedness to respond to IPV. Specific IPV topics that MSW graduates might be particularly underprepared in are also discussed.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the University of Maryland, School of Social Work PhD program.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the University of Maryland, School of Social Work PhD program.

Notes on contributors

Dante de Tablan

Lisa Fedina, Joonyup Lee, and Dante de Tablan are doctoral students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.