African American caregivers' resources for support: Implications for children's perceived support from their caregiver

•Caregivers who experience a higher number of life stressors report more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.•Caregivers' perceived resources for support are associated with children's perceptions of support from caregivers.•Caregivers' social networks may assist them in providing vital emotional and instrumental support to their children.

School-aged children often turn to their primary caregiver, such as a mother, father, or other close relative, for support in dealing with difficult situations. This cross-sectional, school-based study examined whether urban, lower-income African American caregivers' stressful life events, affective symptoms, and perceived support from their social network were associated with their children's perceptions of support from and conflict with the caregiver. Forty-six African American children aged 8–12 years and a primary caregiver were recruited from a partnering Midwestern United States elementary school and separately interviewed. Results showed that caregivers' report of greater support from their social network across a variety of domains was associated with children's report of greater instrumental support from their caregiver. Caregivers' report of greater attachment to members of their social network was associated with children's report of greater emotional support from their caregiver. Implications of findings for mental health promotion among children and families are discussed.