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theses

This study tested a conceptual model derived from health behavior theories to explain repeat service use in a primary child maltreatment prevention and family support program, the Family Success Centers (FSCs). FSCs are universal neighborhood-based centers that use a family support approach to engage families in a range of flexible services intended to promote protective factors and reduce risk for child maltreatment. Five Centers were selected in different parts of New Jersey from which 115 parents were interviewed shortly after coming to an FSC for the first time. Administrative data provided information on the number of times families returned over a three-month period following the interview. Extant research suggested that individual level motivations derive from perceptions related to psychologically, socially, and intervention related factors. This study used a three-stage process to test a model whereby intentions to repeat services were posited to mediate the relationship between repeat service use and perception of need, expectations of benefit, self-efficacy, integrated motivation, injunctive and descriptive social norms, and family support practices. Intention to return was predicted by older age, unemployment, integrated motivation, and family support practices. Contrary to the tenets of the Theory of Planned Behavior, intentions to return did not mediate the relationships between individual characteristics and repeat service use. Repeat service use was predicted by non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity, single/never married status, having had some college education, identification of complex service needs (versus concrete only), higher level of integrated motivation, and endorsement of a lower level of descriptive social norms (i.e. social network experience with similar services). Results suggest a need to address engagement most particularly for those that enter the program for the express purpose of meeting their concrete needs. Further, engaging first time participants to bring a friend or relative might improve repeat service use for those with more service involved social networks. Additional research is needed to understand the implications of site-level differences, better elucidate the role of integrated motivation in social service research, examine reasons why social networks that are involved in social services might attenuate repeat participation, and explore the utility of the intentions construct in research.

ETD_6273

Ph.D.

Includes bibliographical references

by Kerrie L. Ocasio

doi:10.7282/T32809F1

ETD doctoral

The author owns the copyright to this work.