PERCEIVED NORMATIVE PRESSURES ABOUT REPORTING TO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES

The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Fishbein & Azjen, 2010) provides a useful framework to explore professional reporting of suspected elder abuse to Adult Protective Services (APS). The theory posits people’s intention to perform a behavior is influenced by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived levels of control toward that behavior. Using TPB as a conceptual guide, I collected surveys and held semi-structured interviews with 21 Master’s level social workers practicing in community-based and hospital settings (not long-term care). This poster answers the questions: What are social workers’ beliefs about the professional norms regarding reporting to APS? What themes surfaced about the professional normative pressures for or against reporting? Theoretically, professional norms influence professional behaviors, like reporting, and are established by professional codes of ethics, formal training, and informal workplace contacts. I present survey results showing respondents’ beliefs about people’s level of approval for reporting to APS. Results reveal respondents most frequently rated supervisors as “strongly approving”, administrators as “approving,” clients as “somewhat approving,” and family members as “disapproving” of reporting. Interviews provided a more nuanced picture of these normative beliefs about colleagues and clients. Using the themes that emerged, I provide a graphic representation of how social work ethics, colleagues’ opinions, and clients’ views seem to contribute to pressures for or against reporting. Results indicate respondents felt distressed because they experienced mixed pressures, both for and against reporting. A consistent belief about consulting with colleagues before reporting clients to APS surfaced. I highlight implications for clinical practice and workplace policy.