Factors That Influence Domestic Violence Practice Self-Efficacy: Implications for Social Work

Abstract

This article discusses the results of an exploratory study to identify facilitating
factors and barriers for practice self-efficacy with battered women. Based on
self-efficacy theory, personal factors such as professional experience, academic
preparation, personal experience, and continuing education training were explored
with a random sample of licensed and degreed professional social workers.
Professional experience (ß=.61; t=9.54, p=.000) and academic preparation (ß=.26;
t=4.29, p=.000) were the strongest predictors of self-efficacy. These findings suggest
that to advance the capacity of social workers to respond to domestic violence, social
work education, practitioners, and researchers have a number of important steps
available to take.