EFFECTS OF CLIENT VIOLENCE ON SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS: A NATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

This study uses a work stress theoretical framework to examine the effects of direct and indirect client violence on a randomly selected national sample of MSW and BSW social work students from the National Association of Social Workers (N=595). Client violence variables were analyzed in relationship to fear of future violence and occupational commitment. When students experienced every type of client violence except direct physical assault, they had significantly increased fears of future client violence. Students with increased fear of future violence had significantly increased normative and continuance occupational commitment. Students had exceptionally high affective occupational commitment, regardless of experiences with client violence. Implications for social work programs, field agencies, field educators, and social work students are discussed.