Factors of Social Work Students’ Professional Identity Significance during Professional Training

Abstract

The paper reveals the results of empirically study of factors of social work students’ professional identity significance during professional training. The respondents group consisted of 311 social work students of 1-4 years of Ukrainian higher education institutions. The low-level predominance of professional identity significance in the majority of students is defined. The development of students’ professional identity significance is due to various factors. In the 1st year – the position of students regarding to the status of a social worker in society and respect for the social worker in society; positive attitude of students to the social worker profession. In the 2nd year – a positive attitude of students to the social worker profession; personal significance of the social worker profession. In the 3rd year – a positive attitude of students to the social worker profession; students’ position about the positive impact of the future professional activity of a social worker on their life. In the 4th year – the personal significance of the social worker profession. The factor “students’ position regarding the status of a social worker in society” has a direct impact on the importance of professional identity for 3rd year students and opposite – 4th year students. The position of all students about the prestige of the social worker profession in the country does not affect their professional identity significance.