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.