Child-Care Attitudes and Development of Young Children of Mentally ILL and Well Mothers

Abstract

Young children of mentally ill mothers and well mothers were administered the WPPSI. Mother and child were observed in the test situation and mothers were administered the Maternal Attitude Scale and a measure of intelligence. Even partialling out mothers' IQ, scores of mothers who believe in encouraging the child's interaction with the environment correlated with child's IQ. Lower birth weight and greater birth complications were related to maternal attitudes reflecting continuation of the mother-child symbiosis and, among well mothers, more intrusive behavior in the test situation was also related to the belief in the importance of continuing the symbiosis as well as to greater denial of child-rearing concerns.