Using Child Services: The Importance of the Mother–Child Relationship and Maternal Social Support

Abstract

Gaps between children’s need for clinical services and receipt of services create a risk for negative child outcomes, therefore, it is important to identify factors that bolster parental use of child services. Attachment theory lends support to potential power of both parent–child relationship quality and the social support received by the parent in promoting service utilization and ultimately child outcomes. Study 1 uses a sample of 8-year-old children and their mothers to examine the roles of service use as a mechanism linking maternal social support and child behavioral outcomes. Study 2 uses a sample of 12-year-olds and mothers to more closely examine deficits between service need and the role of mother–child relationship quality in explaining the link between maternal social support and service deficits. Overall, this study highlights the importance of maternal social support and the parent–child relationship in predicting child service utilization, with nuanced results.

Keywords:

• Child outcomes
• child services
• mother–child relationship
• service utilization
• social support

Acknowledgements

Data from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) was used in this manuscript. A data consortium was used to collect data, which was provided to the researchers via the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect. The information and opinions expressed herein reflect solely the position of the author(s). Nothing herein should be construed to indicate the support or endorsement of its content by ACYF/DHHS.

Additional information

Funding

LONGSCAN is a project funded by the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (ACYF/DHHS).