Effects of Caregiver Depression on Parenting Behaviors in Poor Rural China

doi:10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2019.03.008

Abstract

Abstract:

Depression is a common psychological disorder among caregivers of young children, which can adversely affect their parenting behavior and disrupt healthy early child development. In order to assess the prevalence of caregiver depression and analyze its effects on parenting behavior, we conducted a large-scale survey with 1,798 caregivers with children aged 6-24 months in China's Qinba Mountain region. Participants were asked to complete both the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) as well as household surveys describing their socioeconomic backgrounds and caregiving behaviors. We had three main findings. First, the overall depression rate of caregivers is 22.90%, with depression among grandmothers as the principal caregivers 10.11% higher than that of mothers as principal caregivers. Second, the education level and family assets of caregivers were significantly negatively correlated with depression, and the age of caregivers was significantly positively correlated with depression. Children who were male, older, or had lagging language development were also significantly more likely to have caregivers who had depression. Third, caregiver depression significantly reduced positive parenting behaviors and increased negative parenting behaviors. Our results confirm the high prevalence of caregiver depression and its effects on caregiver behaviors, which may have significant consequences on early child development in China. Thus, policies and strategies comprehensively addressing the varied socioeconomic risk factors for caregiver depression, especially age and education, are needed.

Key words: caregiver Depression, parenting behavior, poor rural China, children development

Yang Jie Jiang Qi Yue Ai Tang Lei Nie Jingchun. Effects of Caregiver Depression on Parenting Behaviors in Poor Rural China[J]. Journal of East China Normal University(Educationa, 2019, 37(3): 97-106.

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[2]	Wang Boya Li Shanshan Yue Ai LI Ying Shi Yaojiang. Status and Determinants of Early Childhood Language Development in Poverty Areas in Western China [J]. Journal of East China Normal University(Educationa, 2019, 37(3): 47-57.