"Depressed" mothers' perceptions of infant vulnerability are related to later development.

Fifty-four depressed and non-depressed mothers were interviewed when their infants were 3 and 12 months of age. The depressed mothers assigned greater vulnerability scores and their infants engaged in less exploratory play and had lower Bayley mental and motor scores. The depressed mothers' vulnerability scores at 3 months were related to less exploratory play in their infants as well as lower Bayley mental scores at 12 months.