A
Cross-Cultural Comparison: Postnatal Depression in Korean and Scottish
Mothers
E.-H. Moon Park & G. Dimigen |
The
study investigated the hypothesis (by Stern & Kruckman, 1983)
that postnatal depression occurs in cultures where the post-partum
period is not clearly structured by specific period, represented
by 52 Scottish women; the other where there are definite cultural
traditions, represented by 105 Korean women. In both groups the women
were interviewed 6--10 weeks after childbirth, and the degree of
depression was assessed by Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). Contrary
to the hypothesis, the Korean women, on average were more depressed
in the post-partum period than their Scottish counterparts. Three
possible explanations for the results will be discussed: (1) the
biological basis of postnatal depression (2) depression as a reaction
to withdrawal of support (3) depression as a somatic response to
a stressful life event.
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