The Influence of Mother's Depression, Parenting Stress, Infant Cry, and Infant Temperament on Family Function

The combined impact of maternal depression, parenting stress, infant cry, and infant temperament on family functions was examined. The sample included 257 mothers in the near communities. Questionnaires completed by the mothers who had 0-36 month old children were used to measure depressive symptoms in mothers, infant cry, infant temperament, parenting stress, and family function. Maternal depression, parenting stress, infant crying and infant temperament had negative influence on family adaptability and family cohesion. Mother's depression had negative effect particularly on infant cry. Infant cry had positive effect on infant temperament. Infant temperament had high direct effect on parenting stress. As a result, it had negative influence on family function.