코로나19로 인한 돌봄공백이 취업모의 우울에 미치는 영향

The Impact of Difficulties Finding Childcare due to COVID-19 on Employed Mothers’ Depression : The Moderated Mediation Effects of Marital Conflict and Household Poverty

Objective: This study examined whether difficulties in finding childcare due to COVID-19 were associated with depression, whether marital conflict mediated the association, and whether household poverty moderated the associations focusing on employed mothers raising young children. Methods: The study sample included data collected from 148 employed mothers raising young children aged 3 to 5. Regression, structural equation models, and the conditional indirect effect were used for the analyses. Results: Difficulties in finding childcare due to COVID-19 were indirectly associated with depression through marital conflict, although the direct effect was not statistically significant. For mothers living in poverty, difficulties in finding childcare was associated with depression indirectly through increasing marital conflict. However, for non-poor mothers, although difficulties in finding childcare was associated with increased marital conflict, it did not have a significant effect on increasing depression. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need to provide a more diverse and flexible childcare system for employed mothers to reduce marital conflict and depression in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.