Change in Maternal Behavior during the Baby' s First Year of Life

Abstract

CROCKENBERG, SUSAN, and MCCLUSKEY, KAREN. Change in Maternal Behavior during the Baby's First Year of Life. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1986, 57, 746-753. The influence of maternal attitudes, social support, and infant irritability on maternal behavior was assessed. Early maternal behavior did not predict later maternal behavior. Change in maternal behavior was associated with the mother's social support and with an interaction between her initial attitudes about responsiveness and her baby's irritability. Mothers with good social support were more sensitive toward their babies during reunion episodes of the Strange Situation than mothers with poor support. Mothers with unresponsive attitudes and irritable babies were the most insensitive to their babies in that setting. Crying during separation also predicted maternal sensitivity during reunion. It was found, however, that this infant behavior was associated with early maternal unresponsiveness rather than with neonatal irritability. Implications of change in maternal behavior for the child's attachment security are discussed.