Page 46 - IJPS-9-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Professional quality of life – a mediation model

in families involved with child welfare has resulted in ProQOL will be examined. The authors proposed the
diminished instances of internalizing and externalizing following hypotheses:
behaviors in children. This can be observed in foster 1. There is a significant direct effect of ACEs on
care families where strong bonds between caregivers and attachment security, closeness in the child-employee
children have been found to decrease disruptive behavior, dyad, CF, and compassion satisfaction.
criminal activity, and substance abuse (Cederbaum et al., 2. The attachment security of employees and closeness
2017) thus leading to positive outcomes for all parties towards the children act as mediators in the link
involved. between the ACE variable and the CF and compassion
1.6. Gaps in the scientific literature and aims of the satisfaction variables. More specifically, it is expected
current study that the effect of ACEs on CF mediated by attachment
security, and the effect mediated by closeness
Although prior research has linked ACEs with attachment towards the children is positive. Simultaneously, it
and negative results in compassion, insufficient and is expected that the effect of ACEs on compassion
mixed results were identified. Therefore, it is necessary to satisfaction is mediated by attachment security, and
advance the research on the subject of child welfare PQL, the effect mediated by closeness toward the children
and implicitly on compassion fatigue and compassion is negative.
satisfaction.
To do this, self-report measures are used to assess
Limitations in the current state of knowledge were the above-mentioned variables. Structural equation
identified regarding the development of PQL in different modeling (SEM) is utilized to understand the relationship
categories of employees from social services. The studies between variables and to perform mediation analyses.
conducted before analyzed PQL in individual professions, A greater understanding of the ProQOL in the child
such as foster parents (Bridger et al., 2019; Carew, 2016; protection system, the associations with ACEs, and how
Hannah & Woolgar, 2018), social workers (Senreich et al., the employees’ attachment security and closeness in the
2020), or on child welfare specialists as a general group child-employee dyad can act as risk or protective factors
(Bolic, 2019). There were no identified studies on the will benefit local authorities which manage foster carers.
population of child protection professionals, more precisely The need for increased support for employees who directly
on psychologists, social workers, and foster parents
work with vulnerable children is becoming increasingly
Following an extensive search in the scientific evident. This includes raising awareness about the subject
literature, it can be concluded that the present study is the and providing targeted interventions to address their
first to tackle the issue of PQL among certain categories specific needs. By promoting role retention and improved
of employees in the child protection system. This study ProQOL, foster parents, psychologists, and social workers
brings an important contribution to the understanding can better contribute to the ultimate goal, the protection of
of how employees in child protection services can be foster children.
affected by the psychological consequences of working
with traumatized children, and what measures can be 2. Methods
implemented. 2.1. Procedure

Individuals working in fields such as social work, This cross-sectional research was conducted in
foster care, and child protection psychology encounter collaboration with 11 child protection institutions from
trauma frequently while performing their job duties. It districts all over Romania. The recruitment procedure
becomes challenging for them to have a sustained break is similar to the one used in a previous study conducted
from exposure to traumatic events, which could aid in by the authors on a sample of foster parents (Teculeasa
returning to their normal level of work performance before et al., 2022). One of the authors sent official invitations
being subjected to future trauma. As a result of prolonged to the institutions through email, stating the general
exposure, it is crucial for organizations to be proactive in purpose of the study, its significance for practice,
recognizing and addressing symptoms and reactions, even and how important is the participation of employees.
if they appear minor (Hiles Howard et al., 2015). The Survey AnyPlace (2020) software was utilized to
The current study aims to explain the contribution of generate an online questionnaire, which the participants
ACEs to the ProQOL of selected categories of employees were requested to complete. The questionnaire included
in the child protection system. Furthermore, the mediating separate items differently phrased in accordance with
role of attachment security and closeness in the child- the job characteristics of foster parents and specialists in
employee dyad in the relationship between ACEs and child protection services. The authors included a page

Volume 9 Issue 2 (2023) 40 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.0884