Personal social networks as a focus for primary prevention of child mistreatment

Abstract

This article explores the nature and functions of social networks as support systems, and the relationship between social networks and early child rearing. The rationale and operational design of a primary prevention program which seeks to strengthen the social networks of parents of very young children are presented. It is concluded that personal social networks are important not only in mediating general life stress, but also support parental child‐rearing responsibilities and, therefore, can serve as primary preventives of child abuse.

The Determinants of Parenting: A Process Model

“…In line with the extensive literature on social support, it is likely that, in the case of parenting, social support functions in three general ways: (1) by providing emotional support, (2) by providing instrumental assistance, and (3) by providing social expectations (e.g., Mitchell & Trickett, 1980;Powell, 1980). Emotional support can be defined as the love and interpersonal acceptance an individual receives from others, either through explicit statements to the effect or as a result of considerate and caring actions.…”

“…Powell (1980) discovered that, during the infancy period, the qualities of mothering predictive of child competence during the preschool years-namely, verbal and emotional responsivity-were more characteristic of mothers who had weekly or more frequent contact with friends (see also Crnic, Greenberg, Ragozin, Robinson & Basham, 1983). Powell (1980) discovered that, during the infancy period, the qualities of mothering predictive of child competence during the preschool years-namely, verbal and emotional responsivity-were more characteristic of mothers who had weekly or more frequent contact with friends (see also Crnic, Greenberg, Ragozin, Robinson & Basham, 1983).…”

Why do ethnic minority (Indian) children living in Britain display more internalizing problems than their English peers? The role of social support and parental style as mediators

“…Although the connection between this distal environmental factor and children's behaviour is less obvious than parental style, social support has consistently been reported to have an important indirect influence on children's behaviour (e.g., Crnic, Greenberg, Ragozin, Robinson & Basham, 1983). For example, several studies have postulated that social support serves to increase parental nurturance and reduce the probability of harsh and rejecting parenting (Belsky, 1984;Cicchetti & Rizley, 1981;Jennings, Stagg, & Connors, 1991;Powell, 1980). It was found that mothers who had regular interaction with friends were more responsive to their children than mothers who had less frequent interaction.…”

Parent education in the public school: The parent and preschooler's program

“…Due to escalating unemployment rates in an unsteady economic climate, job loss now affects all strata of society. Another factor cited as a major component in child abuse cases is that social isolation is a correlate of child maltreatment (Garbarino, 1980;Powell, 1980). It has been demonstrated that when ape mothers are socially isolated from their peers, they are often brutal and neglectful towards their infants (Garbarino & Crouter, 1978; Rock, 1978).…”

“…It has been demonstrated that when ape mothers are socially isolated from their peers, they are often brutal and neglectful towards their infants (Garbarino & Crouter, 1978; Rock, 1978). Research in the area of child abuse suggests that abusive'behaviors on the part of parents relate to the lack of a resourceful social network (Powell, 1980). Yet, at this point in history, increased mobility and other factors leading to the demise of the extended family have increased social isolation for many people (Bronfenbrenner, 1979).…”