Postpartum depression is one of the most serious problems in maternal health because it affects not only the mother but also her family. Postpartum depression disturbs the maternal-infant interaction and attachment. However, most postpartum depression patients ignore this problem and do not seek treatment. Many clinicians and researchers realize there is a need to develop a postpartum depression scale. Thus, this study has been designed to development of a postpartum depression scale. Data were collected through a survey over a period of three months. Subjects who participated in the study were 167 Korean mothers in their postpartum period. The author used a convenience sampling method. The analysis of the data was done with SPSS PC+ for descriptive statistics, item analysis and factor analysis. Initially 62 items were generated from the interview data of eight postpartum depression patients and from a literature review. This preliminary scale was analyzed for reliability and validity. The results of this analysis are as follows. 1. Initially 62 items were analyzed through the index of Content Validity(CVI)and 48 items were selected. 2. Seven factors were extracted through the principal component analysis, and these contributed 61% of the variance in the total score. Finally 46 items in the scale loaded .41~.84 on one of seven factors. 3. Each factor was labeled. Factor 1 was labeled 'emotional phenomena-emotional upset' and included 13 items, factor 2 was labeled 'cognitive phenomena-self concept disturbance' and included seven items, factor 3 was labeled 'relationship to baby-negative feeling' and included six items, factor 4 was labeled 'relationship to baby-overload' and included eight items, factor 5 was labeled 'negative maternal identity' and included five items, factor 6 was labeled 'biophysiological phenomena-disturbance of physical functioning' and included four items, and factor 7 was labeled 'interpersonal relationship phenomena-blamed others' and included three items. 4. Cronbach Coefficient Alpha for internal consistency was .95 for the total 46 items. Finally, the author suggests that this scale could be adequately applied in assessing the postpartum depression of mothers during the postpartum period. The results of this study can contribute to designing an appropriate postpartum depression prevention strategy.

The purpose of this study is to explore types of postpartum depression and to understand the nature and structure of the postpartum depression by using Q-methodological approach. As a way of research, 55 statements concerning postpartum depression were selected through individual interviews with postpartum mothers and literature review. 30 women were chosen as a subject group for the study, with opinions shown in 55 statements divided into 9 scales by forced distribution. PC QUANL Program was used for analysis and Q-factors were analyzed by using principal component analysis. As a result, postpartum depression experience was classified into 5 types. There are "Role -Strain Type", "Unattributional Depression Type", "Psychosomatic Symptoms Type", "Self-Compassion Type", and "Role-Crisis Type". Type I was named "Role-Strain Type", referring to the strain generally experienced by mothers with regard to the new role as a mother and as a social member. Type II was named "Unattributional Depression Type", referring to the symptom experienced by people who were in a state of vanity and a sense of loss. They often break into tears for no specific reasons. In case of Type III, people in a state of "Psychosomatic Symptoms Type" develop physical symptoms after suffering from inherent emotional conflict. Type IV was named "Self-Compassion Type" refers to the symptom shown by those who feel pity for their children and for themselves. And they show inability to cope with the reality properly. Type V was named "Role-Crisis Type", which is experienced by people who have a burden and a severe fear of their own job and their children in their mind, also showing serious conflict with maternal role. Futhermore, it was carried out to examine structure of postpartum depression in terms of degree of depression and adjustment ability. Type I showed mild degree of depression and relatively good adjustment ability. Type II showed broad range of degree in depression and moderate adjustment ability. Type III showed moderate depression and relatively low adjustment ability. Type IV revealed relatively serious degree of depression and the lowest adjustment ability. Type V revealed very serious degree of depression and the lowest adjustment ability. As a result, considering the structure of postpartum depression, Type I is considered to be a normal depression sympton which most mothers generally experience, followed by Type II, Type III, Type IV and Type V, each of which show increasingly worse degree of depression and lower adjustment ability. In conclusion, it seems to be it is necessary to understand distinct symptoms of postpartum depression and to examine the characteristics and structure of those types, so that it could lead to more individual nursing approach.

The Purpose of this study was to build a substan tive theory about the experience of postpartum depression. The qualitative research method used was grounded theory. The interviewees were eight mothers who had experienced postpartum depression. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with audiotape recording done by the investigator over a period of twelve months. The data were analyzed simultaniously by a constant comparative method in which new data were continuously coded into categories and properties according to Strauss and Corbin's methodology. Analysis the grounded data resulted in 28 concepts being identified. Eight categories emerged from the analysis. The categories were regret, loss of freedom, isolation of oneself, heartache, loss, emotional upset, avoidance, recovery. These substantive categories are consistant with preious research results. Causal conditions included: regret, loss of freedom. Phenomena: heartache, loss, emotional upset. Context: isolation oneself. Intervention condition: avoidance. Action/interaction strategies: desire for recovery. Consequences: recovery. These categories were synthesized into the core concept-The process of filling the empty loss of self The process of the experienced postpartum depression was (1) change after delivery, (2) searching for a reason for depression, (3) effort to recover from postpartum depression, (4) recovery from postpartum depression and return to previous life. The process of recovery from postpartum depression was proceeded by (1) support from others, especially husband, (2) resolution of stressful life events, (3) reconstructing of life goals and resolution strategies, (4) acceptance of depression and seeking psychiatric treatment. Seven hypotheses were derived from the analysis. (1) Mothers who experienced stressful life event and economic problem are more depressive. (2) Mothers who have conflict with parents are more depressive. (3) The more somatic symptoms, the more depression. (4) Social support faciliates recovery from postpartum depression. (5) Mothers who have lower self-esteem are more depressive. (6) Mother's role overload disturbs recovery from postpartum depression. (7) Ideal maternal identity faciliates recovery from postpartum depression. Through this substantive theory, nurses can understand the importance of postpartum depression management.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the change and difference and relationship of postpartum depression and physical image. METHOD: The subjects consisted of 86 postpartum women at one general hospital in Seoul. The data was collected from September to November 2001. The instrument used for this study were SRD (Self-Rating Depression Scale) and Norris' Body Image Scale to evaluate depression and body image. The collected data was analyzed with frequency, mean, t-test, paired t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULT: The result of this study were as follows: 1.The mean score of D2 was significantly higher than D1(p=.003). There was no difference significantly B1 and B2(p=310). 2. There was significant correlation between the two, D1-D2(r=.381, p<.01), B1-B2(r=.364, p<.01), D1-B1(r=.579, p<.01), D2-B2(r= .567, p<.01). (D1: depression of postpartum 1-3days, D2: depression of postpartum 6-8weeks, B1: body image of postpartum 1-3days, B2: body image of postpartum 6-8weeks) CONCLUSION: There was very high postpartum depression in postpartum women, but body image was positive. Also, there was correlated to postpartum depression and body image. Thus it is necessary to implement nursing intervention focused on to decrease the postpartum depression and to enhance the body image of the postpartum women.

Postpartu depression is one of the most serious problems in maternal health because it affects not only the mother but also her family. Postpartum depression disturbs maternal-infant interaction and attachment. However, most postpartum depression patients ignore this problem and do not seek treatment. Thus this study in conducted to development of a Home-Based Multimedia Tutoring System for postpartum depression management. With this computerized system, mothers in the postpartum periods can check the level of postpartum depression using a personal computer. This system will go through each mother's data and screen those who have abnormal values. In addition this system includes intervention programs-education for nutrition, hygiene care, sleep, postpartum exercise, methods of relaxation, deep breathing, visualization, music therapy and family therapy-to relieve postpartum depression. Using this system, a mother who has a minor level of depression can manage it by herself. Computer language used in this study were html 3.2 OS used was Microsoftware Ni Server 4.0, the graphic tool was Adobe Photoshop 4.0, and the Webpage tool was Notepade. The results of this study are show at internet "URL : Http://203.241.225.42/". Finally, the author suggests that this system could be adequately applied to assessing postpartum depression and as a intervention strategy for mothers during the postpartum period. Further this study contributes to designing an appropriate postpartum depression prevention strategy.