Pathways from social support to service use among caregivers at risk of child maltreatment

The purpose of this study was to test pathways from social support to service use among caregivers at risk of child maltreatment, which involved four mediating variables-family functioning, psychosomatic problems, child maltreatment allegation, and perceived needs. I used a subsample of data (n = 1000) of Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). The model fitted the data well and supported some of the hypothesized pathways. The effect of social support on service use was mediated by family functioning and psychosomatic symptoms, which in turn was associated with caregivers' perceived needs for outside assistance for a personal or emotional problem. The hypothesized pathways from perceived family functioning and psychosomatic symptoms through CPS report were not supported. The study's findings contribute to understanding the role that social support can play in caregivers' seeking service use for emotional or personal problems.

► Social support exerted indirect effects on at-risk caregivers' service use.
► Social support improved family functioning and reduced psychosomatic symptoms.
► Family functioning and psychosomatic symptoms were associated with perceived needs.
► Perceived needs were associated with actual service use of caregivers.