Relationship of Parents’ Parenting Stress and Their Depression with Their Child’s Happiness

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the mutual dynamism of fathers' and mothers' parenting stress and depression and their effects on children's happiness. Methods: This study selected a sample of 1,423 parents and their children from the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC) and used the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) and Structural Equation Model (SEM). Results: The results were as follows. First, actor effect between fathers' parenting stress and depression and mothers' parenting stress and depression were significant. Second, fathers' parenting stress was positively associated with mothers' depression and mothers' parenting stress was positively associated with fathers' depression. This result indicates a significant partner effect between fathers' and mothers'. Third, fathers' depression was negatively associated with children's happiness but it was not significant. However, mothers' depression was negatively associated with their children's happiness. Fourth, fathers' and mothers' parenting stress had effects on mothers' depression and, in turn, mothers' depression had an effect on children's happiness. Conclusion: This study found that mother and father are interdependent as a dyad, and parents' interdependency affects their child's happiness.