גורמים אישיים, חברתיים ודתיים המסבירים את המניעים לבחירת המקצוע בקרב עובדות סוציאליות מהחברה הערבית בישראל

Background: Choosing a profession is a developmental process based on the traits, abilities, and preferences of individuals and is shaped by diverse motives. There is little scientific knowledge about the motives for choosing the social work profession by members of the Arab society in Israel, and factors explaining this choice have not yet been studied. Aims: To describe the motives for choosing their profession among Arab social workers in Israel, and to examine personal (self-fulfillment), social (commitment to volunteering, commitment to social values), and religious (commitment to faith values) factors that explain the motives for this choice. Methods: A quantitative questionnaire that included several sections was completed by 179 Arab social workers. Participants were recruited using anon-probability method, through convenience and snowball sampling. Findings: The motives for choosing the social work profession were divided into four dimensions: beliefs about external factors exerting control in the choice of social work as a profession; high expectations and integrity; need for certainty and security; and the importance attributed to the interest in and personal satisfaction with the profession. The main factors contributing to the motives for choosing the profession were found to be personal (self-fulfillment) and social (commitment to social values). Conclusions and Implications for Practice and Policy: The findings expand the understanding of the motives of Arab social workers for choosing their profession, and place special emphasis on the contribution of self-fulfillment and commitment to social values to explaining their motives. These variables should be addressed when attempting to strengthen and empower Arab social workers.