Examining the Effect of Previous Interactions with Social Workers on Divorced Fathers' Perceptions of Them and the Likelihood of Seeking Their Help

Objective: The current study aimed to examine the role of divorced fathers` prior experience with social workers (SWs) in explaining their attitudes and perceptions of SWs and the likelihood of seeking their help for themselves and their children. Method: A structured questionnaire was distributed online through various forums targeting divorced fathers. In total, 220 divorced fathers were sampled, where 60.45% had prior experience with SWs. Results: Divorced fathers who had prior experience with SWs believed that SWs have less positive attitudes towards them, than did those with no such experience. They also exhibited significantly more negative attitudes towards SWs, perceived SWs as prioritizing women over men in issues related to divorce, perceived them as less effective and less professional, and displayed lower levels of trust in SWs, than did divorced fathers with no prior experience. However, no significant differences were found between the two samples of divorced fathers in terms of their appreciation of SWs and the likelihood of seeking their help for personal or child-related issues. Conclusions: Interactions between divorced fathers and SWs significantly shape fathers' attitudes and perceptions of SWs. However, the likelihood of seeking their help remains relatively low, regardless of prior experience.