Depression Among Women in Relation to Sex Composition of Children and Socio-Economic Status

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of Socio-Economic Status (SES) and sex composition of children on depression among women by utilizing data from an urban center of the state of Punjab. The study specifically aimed at considering whether women having certain sex composition of children, particularly all girl families, bear excessively the detrimental consequences of having a predominance of daughters and no son. The sample comprised of 60 mothers (30 high SES and 30 low SES). Out of the total of 30 mothers within each group 10 mothers had all sons and no daughter, 10 had all daughters and no son and the remaining 10 had a mixed sex composition of children with both sons and daughters. Mental Depression Scale by Dubey (1993) and a detailed questionnaire were used for data collection. A 2*3 ANOVA was carried out for analyzing the data. Results reveal that there was a significant impact of sex composition of children and SES on depression among women. Having a predominance of daughters in the family sex composition was a risk factor in causing depression. Low SES and families overpopulated with daughters adversely affected the levels of depression among women in Punjab.