Perceived Instrumental Support as a Mediator between Maternal Mental Health and Housing Insecurity

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-11-2021

Publication Title

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Volume

30

First page number:

3070

Last page number:

3079

Abstract

Housing insecurity is a persistent issue in marginalized communities. Maternal depression and substance use contribute additional housing risk for vulnerable families. Maternal mental health problems may erode or disrupt social networks, leaving families with fewer supports upon which to rely in a housing crisis. The present study leveraged a large, longitudinal sample of families with children (N = 2,991). Structural equation modeling with latent variables investigated the role of perceived instrumental support in pathways from maternal depression and substance use to risk for housing insecurity over a 10-year period. Results indicated maternal depression was linked directly with housing insecurity (β = 0.16, p < 0.001), as well as indirectly via reduced perceived instrumental support (β = 0.01, p < 0.05). Maternal substance use was not associated either directly or indirectly with housing insecurity. Social support thus emerged as an important mechanism explaining an enduring association between maternal depression and risk for housing insecurity.

Keywords

Families with adolescents; Housing insecurity; Instrumental support; Maternal depression; Maternal substance use

Disciplines

Maternal and Child Health

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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