MATERNAL WITHDRAWAL FROM HANDICAPPED TODDLERS*

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Abstract
Videotaped observations of the free-play interaction of mothers and 12 physically handicapped, 14 premature and 9 healthy 2 yr olds were evaluated. Mothers of handicapped toddlers were significantly more likely to ignore their children at 24 mo. than were mothers in other groups. Further, although children''s Bayley scores had not differed when seen previously at 1 yr, children of mothers who ignored at 2 yr had lower concurrent 2 yr IQ scores and experienced an average 30 point drop between the 2 evaluations. These results support clinical reports of maternal withdrawal from handicapped young children and suggest that the mother-child dyad in such cases may be at continuing risk throughout the early years.