Mothers of Vulnerable and Normal Infants: More Alike than Different

The implications of a research project comparing personality development in first-time mothers of vulnerable and normal infants are discussed. The mothers exhibited changes across time in anxiety and self-sentiment; these time differences suggest that parenthood can be a source of developmental change. Few significant differences between mothers of vulnerable and normal infants were found, implying that during the early months of an infant's life, mothers of vulnerable and normal children were more alike than different. Since the mothers were showing changes across time, this period appears to be an appropriate time for parent intervention, including possible "mainstreaming" of the mother.