De samenhang tussen beroepsgebonden factoren van medewerkers op een peutercentrum en hun toegepaste kennis van kindermishandeling.

Abstract

Introduction. This study examined the relationship between applied knowledge (risk perception and selected procedure) of child maltreatment, and work-related factors (years of work experience and educational level) of day care professionals. Based on an exploration of current literature a positive relation was hypothesized between applied knowledge of child maltreatment and work-related factors of day care professionals. Method. 65 female participants (Mage = 41.2 years, SDage = 11.2) working at day cares in Utrecht were included in this study. Applied knowledge was measured by having participants rate cases in which child maltreatment could be present on risk perception and selected procedure. Their answers were then compared to the “ideal answers”, after which simple and multiple regressions were used to analyse their scores, as well as a moderator analysis for the influence of job description. Results. No significant correlation was found between years of work experience, educational level and work-related factors with applied knowledge of risk perception and selected procedure. However, the results showed a significant, positively moderating effect of job description on the correlations of education level and work-related factors with the applied knowledge of the right risk perception and selected procedure. Conclusion. Day care professionals with more work experience and a higher educational level, do not have a better applied knowledge of child abuse. More research is necessary to shed light on this relationship and the effect of the moderator job description.