Rural black women and depression: A contextual analysis

We use ecological systems theory to guide our investigation of depression a mong a sample of 102 married Black mothers residing in the rural South. Usi ng self-report data collected via computerized interviews during home visit s, we conduct multivariate regression analyses, exploring the associations between depression and (a) spousal support and conflict, (b) cocaregiver su pport and conflict, (c) child conduct difficulties, and (d) socioeconomic r isk. We hypothesize that each of these variables are associated with mother s' depression scores and that the extent to which these familial variables and depression are associated will vary across socioeconomic contexts. Soci oeconomic risk, child conduct difficulties, and conflict with a cocaregiver were associated with women's depression in the full model. The moderationa l hypotheses were upheld for the variables of spousal support and child con duct difficulty. Spousal support and depression have a strong negative asso ciation under conditions of high socioeconomic risk and a nonsignificant re lationship when socioeconomic risk is low. The association between child co nduct difficulty and depression was exacerbated under high socioeconomic ri sk.