The Relationship between Parenting Stress and Depression among Mothers of Infants: The Mediating and Moderating Roles of Self-Esteem

Abstract

Objective: This study is grounded in the Stress Process Model, and aims to separately examine the mediating and moderating effects of self-esteem, on the relationship between parenting stress, and depression among mothers of infants. Methods: The study used data from the second wave of the Korea Early Childhood Education and Care Panel (K-ECEC-P) conducted by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 31.0 and PROCESS Macro version 5.0. Results: Self-esteem had a significant partial mediation effect and a significant moderation effect. Mothers with higher educational attainment, and those who were employed or enrolled in school had higher self-esteem, as compared to those who were neither employed nor enrolled. Conclusions: Consistent with the Stress Process Model, self-esteem served as a partial mediator and a psychological resource that buffered the positive association between parenting stress and depression. Depression prevention should combine the efforts made to reduce parenting stress, and to enhance self-esteem.