This study examined behaviors of intrusive/depressed versus withdrawn/depre
ssed mothers and their one-year-old infants during a structured teaching in
teraction. Group comparisons revealed that intrusive/depressed mothers show
ed more positive responses, more demonstrating toys, and more physical guid
ance, and their infants demonstrated less toy manipulation. Withdrawn/depre
ssed mothers maintained infant play more frequently and showed more restric
ted affect, and their infants demonstrated less affective behavior, both po
sitive and negative. These findings suggested that exposure to depressed mo
thers' nonoptimal interaction styles represents different types of risk to
infants' cognitive and affective development.