Research On The Influence Of Work Support On Social Workers’ Professional Identity:Data Analysis Based On CSWLS 2019

In recent years,with the construction of modern national governance system and the emerging demand in the field of social services,the importance of social work development has been emphasized in China.Social workers are professional forces providing social services and delivering social welfare.At present,the lack of professional identity among Chinese social workers not only affects the personal growth of social workers,but also threatens the sustainability of social service provision which further hinder the professionalism of social work in China.The purpose of this study is to explore the influence mechanism of work support on social workers’professional identity.Based on the Job demand-resource Model,the current study constructed a comprehensive analytical framework validating the direct influence of work support on social workers’ professional identity.By combining self-determination theory and commitment theory,this research further explored the mediating role of job autonomy and organizational commitment.The current research used the first wave of the China Social Work Longitudinal Study(CSWLS 2019).Alarge sample of 5965 social workers from 979 social work agency in 56 major cities nationwide completed relevant scales measuring work support,job autonomy,organization commitment,professional identity.The empirical results showed that,after controlling relevant variables,work support was positively correlated with social workers’ professional identity.The increase of work support can significantly improve social workers’ professional identity,which reveals the direct effect of work support on social workers’ professional identity.In addition,job autonomy and organizational commitment played a mediating role in the relationship between work support and social workers’ professional identity,that is,work support can indirectly promote social workers’ professional identity by improving their job autonomy and organizational commitment.This research had important theoretical and practical significance.Theoretically,this study expanded the Job demand-resource Model.By combining this model with self-determination theory and commitment theory,the current study developed a new theoretical analysis framework to explain the mechanism of work support on social workers’ professional identity.Practically,this study can provide a direction for the future development of social work agency.At the same time,we offered some suggestions and empirical evidences which support future interventions to promote social workers’ professional identity.Finally,this study is beneficial to the formulation and improvement of social policies related to professionalism of social work.