Youth protection workers: Exploration of initial career reasons, current sources of motivation, and perceived impacts of these sources
Objective. The objective of this qualitative study is to describe how the work environment affects the motivation of youth protection workers (YPWs) by exploring their initial motives (why I chose to be a YPW), their actual motives (what are irritants and advantages in my work environment) and the impact of these motives. Methods. A sample of 30 YPWs was invited to participate in a semi-structured telephone interview. A sequenced thematic analysis was carried out in order to identify the emerging themes. Results. YPWs choose to work in their field for opportunistic (e.g., life circumstances) and relational (e.g., helping young people) motives. Organizational factors, including the presence of violence in the workplace, are perceived as demotivating. Relational factors, such as witnessing client progress, are seen as highly sources of motivating. The desire to leave the organization is one of the negative consequences of irritants present in the work environment of the YPW, while appreciating one’s mandate is an example of the positive impact of advantages in work environment. Discussion. It appears wise to develop a work environment for YPWs that lends greater support to the act of intervening with youth. Such an environment would better satisfy the psychological needs of the YPWs, support their motivation at work and reduce psychological health issues and staff turnover.