Role of Perceived Social Support in Moderating the Relation between Parental Child Abuse Risk and Child Internalizing Symptomatology

Social isolation or lack of social support has often been implicated in the etiology of physical child abuse. However, social isolation and social support can be defined in terms of various properties, each of which may affect the occurrence of abuse potential in a different manner or to a different degree. This study explores the dimensions of social isolation that may place mothers at greatest risk for physically abusing their children. Results indicated that certain aspects of support were important in predicting decreased physical child abuse potential: concrete support from work or school associates and emotional support in noncritical relationships throughout the support network. Results are discussed in terms of implications for interventions and future explorations of the relationship between social isolation and physical child abuse.

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Childhood abuse, pregnancy-related anxiety and the mediating role of resilience and social support

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105320968140 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 135910532096814

Author(s):

Robyn Brunton ◽

Tamara Wood ◽

Rachel Dryer

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Social Support ◽

Child Abuse ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Childhood Abuse ◽

Continuity Of Care ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Antenatal Screening ◽

Mediating Role

Physical, sexual and psychological abuse were examined as risk factors for pregnancy-related anxiety with resilience and social support as mediators. Pregnant women ( n = 638) completed measures of pregnancy-related anxiety, resilience, perceived social support and childhood abuse. Women with an abuse history had higher pregnancy-related anxiety scores ( m = 64.40) than other women ( m = 55.36). All abuse types independently predicted pregnancy-related anxiety; resilience and social support were mediators. Results highlight the value of antenatal screening for pregnancy-related anxiety including specific risk factors such as child abuse. Programs such as the Midwife Continuity of Care are useful in encouraging disclosure.

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Testing the Strain Theory of Suicide – The Moderating Role of Social Support

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000604 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 82-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bob Lew ◽

Ksenia Chistopolskaya ◽

Yanzheng Liu ◽

Mansor Abu Talib ◽

Olga Mitina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Online Survey ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Strain Theory ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Strains ◽

Moderating Role

Abstract. Background: According to the strain theory of suicide, strains, resulting from conﬂicting and competing pressures in an individual's life, are hypothesized to precede suicide. But social support is an important factor that can mitigate strains and lessen their input in suicidal behavior. Aims: This study was designed to assess the moderating role of social support in the relation between strain and suicidality. Methods: A sample of 1,051 employees were recruited in Beijing, the capital of China, through an online survey. Moderation analysis was performed using SPSS PROCESS Macro. Social support was measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and strains were assessed with the Psychological Strains Scale. Results: Psychological strains are a good predictor of suicidality, and social support, a basic need for each human being, moderates and decreases the effects of psychological strains on suicidality. Limitations: The cross-sectional survey limited the extent to which conclusions about causal relationships can be drawn. Furthermore, the results may not be generalized to the whole of China because of its diversity. Conclusion: Social support has a tendency to mitigate the effects of psychological strains on suicidality.

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