Moral Distress in Social Work: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this article is to present empirical evidence on the factors that facilitate the emergence of moral suffering and the consequences of the phenomenon in social workers published between 2018 and 2022. A systematic literature review was conducted in Scielo, Scopus and Web of Science, and eighteen articles were selected for analysis. Most of the articles are qualitative research reports and use interviews as data collection instruments. The studies primarily involve social workers working in the fields of healthcare and childhood, aiming to understand the factors influencing moral distress. Moral distress is conceptualised as arising from working conditions and organisational factors. The main consequences of the phenomenon are in the mental health of professionals and at the organisational level. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and burnout are reported, as well as organisational difficulties such as high turnover and the intention to quit the job. Despite the serious consequences of the phenomenon, evidence on this topic is scarce, particularly in Latin America, where no studies on the subject have been found. The precarious working conditions that social workers face in this geographical area show the need for further research.