Factors Influencing Maternal Depression in Low-Income Families with Young Children

Lee, Hyungmin

doi:2016.20.1.54

J Korean Soc Matern Child Health > Volume 20(1); 2016 > Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health 2016;20(1):54-65.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2016.20.1.54 Published online January 31, 2016.

Factors Influencing Maternal Depression in Low-Income Families with Young Children

Hyungmin Lee

Department of Social and Child Welfare, Woosong University, Daejeon, Korea

유아기 자녀를 둔 저소득층 어머니의 우울에 영향을 미치는 요인

이형민

우송대학교

Correspondence: Hyungmin Lee,
Email: miso2child@naver.com

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing maternal depression in lowincome families with young children.
Methods
The study consisted of 376 mothers in low-income families from participants enrolled in the population-based study of 2011 PSKC by Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. The factors including depression, self-esteem, parenting stress, marital conflict, father involvement in child rearing, social support, and family life event were assessed with questionnaires. Data analysis was conducted by description analysis, partial correlation, and hierarchical regression using SPSS 22.0 program.
Results
The results showed that 10.6% of mothers were in severe depressive group in this study. Also the result revealed that marital conflict was the strongest predictor of maternal depression.
Conclusion
The results suggest that mothers with young children in low-income families especially had difficulty with depression due to family related factors. Implications included the need to support mothers and develop intervention programs focusing on family relationships in order to improve and sustain mental health.

Key Words: maternal depression, self-esteem, parenting stress, marital conflict, father involvement, social support, family life event