Citation

Liu Y, Merritt DH. Child Abuse Negl. 2018; 86: 324-335.

Affiliation

New York University, Silver School of Social Work, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.09.002

PMID

30220424

Abstract

Based on the family stress model and the stress-buffering model, the present study examines the relationship between caregivers' financial stress and child internalizing problem behaviors, the mediating role of caregiver maltreating behaviors, and whether social services for caregivers buffer this relationship. The current study is based on data from wave two of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being dataset (N = 2670).

RESULTS indicated increased high familial financial stress was associated with child internalizing problems. Caregivers' psychological aggression, physical assault, child neglect, and sexual maltreatment emerged as mechanisms mediating this relationship. Tangible service and social network service were found to mitigate the deleterious effect of financial stress on child internalizing behaviors, but primarily for those whom financial stress was high. These findings highlight the role perceived financial stress has on potential maltreatment and child outcomes, rather than relying on objective measures of economic status. Implications for social services focused interventions for children and caregivers coping with high levels of perceived financial stress are discussed.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Family stress model; Financial stress; Internalizing behavior; Maltreatment; Social service