Early Infant Temperament and Maternal Expectations Related to Maternal Adaptation

Abstract

The contribution to an explanation of early maternal adaptation by mothers' expectations for child behaviour as compared to their descriptions of infant temperament was investigated within the framework of a goodness of fit model (Lerner & Lerner, 1983). Analyses were made separately for primiparas (n = 45) and multiparas (n = 74). Expectations and temperament were measured for the dimensions of regularity, approach-withdrawal and manageability with questionnaires completed at infant age 6 weeks (expectations) and 4 months (temperament). Data on maternal adaptation (role satisfaction, irritability, stress, and coping) were obtained in interviews shortly after the temperament questionnaire was completed and at infant age 10 months (role satisfaction). The results showed that descriptions of actual temperament were more predictive of adaptational experiences than were mothers' expectations. Infant temperament, especially the dimensions of manageability and regularity, was more important for multiparous mothers than for first-time mothers. The interactive effects predicted from the good-ness of fit model were not found. The results were discussed from the perspective of the different situations prevailing for first-time and multiparous mothers.