Objective: Maternal depression in low-income women is a significant problem because of its negative consequences both to mothers and their children. Although the direct influence of economic problems on maternal depression has been previously noted, there is a more limited base of support that explains potential mechanisms that could explain this association. One theory suggests that economic difficulties could erode perceived social support; a model known as the social support deterioration model. This research tests this social support deterioration model by examining the direct as well as indirect impact by which economic hardship is associated with depressive symptoms. Methods: A sample of 336 mothers with children in mental health treatment was analyzed. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypothesized paths depicted by the deterioration model and relevant demographic variables. Results: First, economic hardship positively predicted depressive symptoms. Second, economic hardship negatively predicted perceived social support. Third, social support negatively predicted depressive symptoms. Finally, social support was found to partially mediate the relationship between economic hardship and depressive symptoms. Being married and working outside the home were also found to have benefits to mothers. Conclusions: Low levels of perceived social support were found to be one mechanism that explains the elevated depressive symptoms of mothers who maintain high levels of economic hardship. Economic hardship also maintained a direct impact on maternal depressive symptoms in mothers with children in mental health treatment. Future research should consider social support and economic hardship as potential targets for prevention and intervention of maternal depression.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-05012008-143647 |
| Date | 05 May 2008 |
| Creators | Gjesfjeld, Christopher |
| Contributors | Catherine G. Greeno, Nancy K. Grote, Lambert Maguire, Kevin H. Kim |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-05012008-143647/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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