Workplace violence against social work and social services professionals in Spain: systematic review of prevalence, risk factors and prevention implications

Abstract

Violence perpetrated by service users against social work and social services professionals has become an increasingly recognised occupational risk, with important implications for workers’ wellbeing and the quality-of-service delivery. Despite growing international attention to this issue, empirical evidence within the Spanish context remains limited and fragmented. This study aims to synthesise existing research on violence directed at social work and social services professionals in Spain through a systematic literature review. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were performed in Web of Science, Scopus, APA PsycInfo and Dialnet Plus. After the screening process, nine empirical studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that verbal and psychological violence are the most frequently reported forms of violence, while physical violence appears less prevalent. Several risk factors were identified, including individual characteristics of professionals as well as organisational and contextual conditions. The findings are interpreted using Chappell and Di Martino’s interactive model of workplace violence. The results highlight the urgent need for institutionalised violence-reporting protocols and specific conflict-management training within the Spanish social services system. Implications for prevention strategies, professional practice and organisational policies in social services are discussed.