Description of Early Childhood Emotional Competence With Postpartum Depression Mothers

Postpartum depression not only affects the mother, but also the child. Neglect during infancy can affect the development of children's emotional abilities at an early age. This study aims to determine the description of the emotional abilities of early childhood who have postpartum depression mothers. The method used is a mix method between qualitative-phenomenological to mothers and direct assessment to children using Emotional Compentency Test Kits for Children. Subjects were mothers who had a history of postpartum depression and early childhood (3-6 years) obtained by purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 3 mothers and then analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) technique and the Emotional Competency Test Kits for Children assessment to 3 children. The results of the assessment also showed that 2 of the 3 subjects were in the medium emotional ability category and one was in the low category. In conclusion, early childhood with postpartum depression mothers are able to express their emotions according to the situation that occurs. However, they still experience limitations in labeling emotions and regulating emotions. Emotions that are often shown are negative emotions, in the form of anger and sadness. In addition, there are factors of maternal effort, maternal perceptions of child characteristics, and limited maternal interactions that affect children's emotional competence.