Postpartum Depression and Maternal Role Confidence, Parenting Stress, and Infant Temperament in Mothers of Young Infants

영아기 어머니의 산후 우울 정도와 모성역할 자신감, 양육 스트레스, 영아기질에 관한 연구

Purpose: The purposes of this descriptive survey study were to describe postpartum depression level and to identify the influence of postpartum depression on maternal role confidence, parenting stress and infant temperament, in order to develop a base for nursing intervention programs for mothers who have postpartum depression. Method: Data were collected from 183 mothers of infants who visited one public health center in Goyang city. The instrument used for this study was a self-report questionnaire to identify the postpartum depression (BDI), maternal role confidence, parenting stress (PSI) and infant temperament (WBL). Results: Of the mothers 42.1% were in the normal range for postpartum depression, 33.3% in the mild group and 24.6% were in the moderate to severe group. There were significant differences in parenting stress, and infant temperament according to level of postpartum depression. There were correlations between maternal role confidence (r=-0.13), infant temperament (r=-0.20), parenting stress (r=0.51) and postpartum depression, and weak negative correlation between parenting stress and infant temperament (r=-0.30). Conclusion: Postpartum depression in the infant period when the mother's role is very important and the effect is not only on the mother's role but also on the infant's growth. It is essential to assess and provide immediate care to mothers who have postpartum depression.