Depression Among Working Andnon-Workingmiddle Aged Women

Abstract

The primary purpose of this descriptive study was to examinedpression in the groups of working and non-working middle-aged womenin Pala Municipality and different Panchayats in the Kottayam districtof Kerala. Using convenience sampling of 200 (100 middle aged workingwomen from small scale factories and 100 middle aged non-workingwomen from Kudumbashree units). The study sample has used a validand reliable instrument scale i.e. Beck’s Depression Inventory Scale.Results indicated highly significant relationship between maritalrelationship, depression and family support involved with working andnon-working middle-aged women. Also this study assesses the depressionexperienced by these working and non-working middle-aged women andexamines the coping strategies used by them. The working middle aged.women had better mental health and reported less depression than thenon-working middle aged women. The most frequently reported sourceof stress for working mothers was not having enough time to do all thehouse chores. Whereas for non-working mothers’ it was lack of propersocial life and this was a major stressor for them. The findings of theseresults also show that non –working married women have to face more
problems in their married life as compared to working married women.The results further show that highly educated working women can perform
well in their married life and they are comparatively free from depressionas compared to non-working married women.