RUNNING HEAD: MATERNAL DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

Mothers of young children are at risk for depressive symptoms due to their gender and status as parents of young children. Accordingly, this study undertook to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a sample of 196 mothers of 5- and 6-year-old children; to identify sociodemographic correlates of depressive symptoms among these women; and to determine if chronic stress is associated with depressive symptoms independent of other risk factors. In-home interviews were conducted with the participants using the Center for Epidemologic Studies--Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Everyday Stressors Index (ESI). High depressive symptoms were reported by 49 percent of the mothers. Depressive symptoms we,e highest among mothers who had never married, had less than a high schJol education, were under 25 years of age, were black, and had a low income. The ESI was a strong predictor of high depressiv