Social Workers’ Attitudes toward Evidence-Based Practice: The Mediating Role of Work-Related Self-Efficacy

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to explore the mediating role of work-related self-efficacy in the association between organizational context variables (workplace social support, accessibility of work-related data and information resources, and role ambiguity) and social workerss’ attitudes toward adoption of evidence-based practice (EBP). For the purpose of the study, 559 social workers were sampled by means of structured questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the proposed model. Accessibility of data and information resources and workplace social support were positively associated with self-efficacy, and role ambiguity was negatively associated with self-efficacy, which was in turn positively related to social workerss’ attitudes toward EBP. The findings of the current study may assist policymakers and professional supervisors in developing interventions designed to promote more positive attitudes toward EBP among social workers. In the effort to promote the integration of EBP in social services settings, the impact of organizational factors on social workerss’ work-related self-efficacy should be taken into account.