Social work during the management of socio-environmental risk: Tensions between the professional and the caring spheres

Abstract

The role played by social work in socio-environmental disasters has been studied since the 1970s, although the challenges faced by social workers in carrying out their professional role while also dealing with their care responsibilities in the family context has received insufficient attention. That said, feminist theory demonstrates that the tensions between the professional and family spheres have an impact on both the physical and mental health of women as well as their personal relationships. These effects may be exacerbated when working in disaster contexts. This study explores the work-family tensions experienced by professionals involved in the social work response to the eruption of the Tajogaite volcano on the island of La Palma (Spain, 2021). Qualitative research was carried out to this end through in-depth interviews with 19 participants who worked at different levels of the social intervention system. The findings provide details of the tensions between work and family life, their consequences, and the various personal and collective strategies used by respondents to mitigate them.