Influence of Parenting Stress on Depression among Single Parents with Preschool Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on the Moderating Effect of Self-rated Health Status

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to verify the influence of parental stress on depression among single parents with preschool children during the COVID-19 pandemic and the moderating effect of self-rated health status.Methods: The study conducted regression analyses with a sample of 335 single parents raising children under seven years old from the raw data of the Study on the Status of Sole-parent Families conducted by the Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in 2021.Results: Single parents’ parenting stress had a positive and significant influence on their depression, moderated by their self-rated health status. That is, the influence of parenting stress on depression was more pronounced for parents who rated their health status as not good compared with those who rated their health status as good.Conclusions: Based on the findings, the discussion suggested interventions for dealing with depression among single parents with preschool children.