The Effect of Husband's Emotional Support on Postpartum Mother's Depression who had immigrated to the United States

이민 산모가 인지한 배우자지지 행위가 산후 우울에 미치는 영향

This study explored the relationships between Husband's emotional support and the mother's postpartum depression. The purpose of this study was to contribute to theoretical understanding of the relationships among these two variables and eventually to direct the planning of nursing care that enhance the health status of mothers in the postpartum period. Data were collected from January to June, 1995, with 47 postpartum Korean mothers in NewHampshire state in The United States of America. Postpartum depression was measured by Jung's Self-rating Depression Scale and husband's support was measured by Husband's support scale developed by Cho, Young Sook. Postpartum depression and husband's support were measured by postpartum mothers on the 3rd postpartum day and 2 weeks. The data were analysed by an SPSS computerized program and Percentages, t-test, paired t-test. ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and Stepwise multiple regression were used. The result of this study were summerized as follows ; 1. Mother's postpartum depression was greater at two weeks than the 3rd day (t=-2.64, p<.05). 2. Mother's percieved husband's supportive behavior was lower at 2 weeks than the 3rd day(t=-3.14,p<.01) 3. The higher the husband's supportive behavior, the lower the postpartum mother's depression (r=-2650,-2845;p<.01) 4. In this study, variables related to the mother's postpartum depression were husband's support, how much the husband liked the baby, occupation, and the knowledge of how to care for the baby. 5. In addition, by using Stepwise multiple regression analysis, it was determined that the main influencing factors on the postpartum depression. The variables - husband's support, how much the husband liked the baby and job made it possible to explain 48.61% of variance in postpartum depression. In conclusion, this study revealed that husband's support is an important factor that decrease the immigrant mother's postpartum depression.