Professional Education or Certificate: The Factors Influencing Child Maltreatment Recognition in China

Purpose: This study examines the influences of social work education and social work certificates on the recognition of child maltreatment and its subtypes among social workers in contemporary China. Method: Data from 3,032 child social workers in the 2019 Chinese Social Work Longitudinal Study were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression models. Results: Social work education showed no significant association with child maltreatment recognition. Individuals with assistant-level or associate-level professional certificates demonstrated higher levels of recognition of child maltreatment and certain subtypes, including emotional abuse and neglect. Conclusions: Compared to the extensive coverage of child protection in certificate exams that reflects practical needs and policy changes, an overall lack of child social work content in degree programs could lead to long-term consequences on child protection practices and calls for a practice-oriented reorganization of social work degree curricula.