ABSTRACT

This research aims to understand the evolution over time of the choice of a career in social work and to identify the parameters that influenced the representation of social work. We conducted a cross-sectional study with repeated measures surveying students enrolled in the first two years of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program between 2001 and 2019 at the University of Sherbrooke (Québec, Canada). Analysis of the responses of 431 students aged 18 to 24 showed that most respondents were female. Gender-based comparative analyses suggested that male students entering in social work studies were older than female students. In addition, almost 66% indicated having a personal life experience which led them to social work. Overall, the main function of social work perceived by respondents was help (57.8%). However, comparative analyses showed this proportion significantly decreased between 2001 and 2010 (64.4%) to 2011–2019 (51.4%). This observed trend might be associated with the decrease in political or ‘social justice’ motivations of students in social work observed over the past decades in several countries around the world. This article is based on the first study conducted in Québec that attempts to describe the profile of students enrolled in a BSW program.

摘要

本研究旨在了解社会工作职业选择随时间的演变，并确定影响社会工作代表性的参数。我们进行了一项横断面研究，重复测量了 2001 年至 2019 年间在舍布鲁克大学（加拿大魁北克）参加社会工作学士 (BSW) 课程前两年的学生。对 431 名 18 至 24 岁学生的回答分析表明，大多数受访者是女性。基于性别的比较分析表明，进入社会工作研究的男生比女生大。此外，近 66% 的人表示有个人生活经历，这导致他们从事社会工作。总体而言，受访者认为社会工作的主要功能是帮助（57.8%）。然而，比较分析显示，这一比例在 2001 年至 2010 年（64.4%）至 2011 年至 2019 年（51.4%）之间显着下降。这种观察到的趋势可能与过去几十年在世界几个国家观察到的学生在社会工作中的政治或“社会正义”动机下降有关。本文基于在魁北克进行的第一项研究，该研究试图描述参加 BSW 计划的学生的概况。