The Role of Demographics, Professional Quality of Life and Public Image in Social Workers' Self-Esteem.

This article examines factors influencing the professional self-esteem of social workers (SWs) in Israel, defined as the value individuals attribute to their profession. Using data from 335 Israeli SWs, the study analyzed the impact of demographic variables (gender, length of professional experience, satisfaction with pay), professional quality of life components (secondary traumatic stress, burnout, compassion satisfaction), and SWs' perceptions of their public image on their professional self-esteem. Findings indicate that longer professional experience, higher satisfaction with pay, greater compassion satisfaction, lower burnout, and a more positive view of their public image are associated with higher professional self-esteem, while gender and secondary traumatic stress showed no significant effect. The study highlights the importance of improving SWs' professional quality of life and public image to enhance their professional self-esteem and suggests targeted support for less experienced and lower-paid practitioners.