The Role of Maternal Employment and Depression in the Psychological Adjustment of Chronically Ill, Mentally Retarded, and Well Children

Used path analysis to test a conceptual model of the relationshipamong maternal employment status, maternal depression, and reportedchild behavior problems. Ss were 95 mothers of children in 4conditions: cystic fibrosis, diabetes, mental retardation, andwell. Regardless of child chronic condition or family SES, mothersnot employed outside the home had higher levels of depressionthan employed mothers. Maternal depression, in turn, was associatedwith higher levels of reported child behavior problems. Controllingfor SES and maternal depression, mental retardation was associatedwith more child behavior problems, but chronic illness (cysticfibrosis and diabetes) was not associated with more behaviorproblems. The findings underscore the need to examine the adjustmentof children with chronic disorders in the context of their mothers'well-being, particularly when mothers are the principal informantsregarding child adjustment.