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Understanding urban child mental health service use: Two studies of child, family, and environmental correlates

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Abstract

The results of two studies identifying child, family, and environmental correlates of initial and ongoing mental health service use by urban minority children and their families are presented. In the first study, data from a sample of 405 adult caregivers of children revealed no predictive power of child demographic characteristics in relation to initial or ongoing service usage. Only parental ratings of child impulsive-hyperactive behavior were significantly related to ongoing involvement in services. In the second study, a new sample of 100 urban caregivers of children was interviewed. Parental discipline efficacy and attitudes about mental health services were found to relate significantly to initial attendance. Relative to ongoing service use, level of family stress, presence of another adult in the home, and parental discipline efficacy were significant. Implications for research and child mental health service organizations are highlighted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Columbia University School of Social Work, 622 West 113th Street, 10025, New York, NY

    Mary M. McKay PhD (LCSW, Associate Professor) & Cynthia J. Lynn MSW (Doctoral Candidate)

  2. Institute for Juvenile Reasearch, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA

    James Pennington MSW (Network Analyst) & Kathleen McCadam (LCSW, Clinic Coordinator)

Authors
  1. Mary M. McKay PhD
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  2. James Pennington MSW
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  3. Cynthia J. Lynn MSW
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  4. Kathleen McCadam
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Correspondence to Mary M. McKay PhD.

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McKay, M.M., Pennington, J., Lynn, C.J. et al. Understanding urban child mental health service use: Two studies of child, family, and environmental correlates. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 28, 475–483 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287777

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