Reconceptualizing Social Support and Its Relationship to Child Neglect

This article reports on a study of the social support and social network relationships of neglecting and nonneglecting, low-income, single, African-American mothers. This study found few differences in the structural and interactional characteristics of their social networks but found key differences in their perceptions of their relationships and interactions. Nonneglecting mothers approached relationships with a balance of independence and mutuality, and interactions were characterized by trust, reciprocity, and flexibility. Neglecting mothers were more dependent on others, and interactions were characterized by conflict, distrust, and lack of mutuality. The importance of considering perceptions of characteristics of social support in practice and research is discussed.