Predictors of Engagement With Mental Health Services Among Mothers of Children at Risk of Maltreatment
Abstract
Objective:
The purpose of this research was to examine the factors associated with various levels of engagement with mental health services in a large sample of mothers at high risk of maltreating their children.
Methods:
Data were collected by LONGSCAN (the Consortium for Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect) for 909 mothers of six-year-old children. These women reported on recent use of mental health services, with four levels of engagement: no use of services (76%), consideration of services (8%), use of and dissatisfaction with services (4%), and use of and satisfaction with services (11%). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict level of engagement in services.
Results:
Predictors of considering services included being formerly married, previous receipt of services, physical victimization, psychological intimate partner victimization, and depressive symptoms. Predictors of satisfaction with services were social support and lack of sexual victimization.
Conclusions:
It is important to take a broad approach to assessing mental health needs, including not only current functioning, but social networks, prior experiences with services, and trauma exposure. Further research is needed on the process of engagement in mental health services, including examination of the factors associated with satisfaction with these services. (Psychiatric Services 63:913–919, 2012; doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201100394)
