Employed mothers' concerns about separation from the first- and second-born child

The effect of birth order on mothers' anxiety about separation from their infants was examined. Forty employed mothers were assessed in 1982 when their firstborns were 7 months old and again when their second-borns were 7 months old. Assessment included two measures: an Interview-Based Rating Scale (IBRS) and the Maternal Separation Anxiety Scale (MSAS). Findings revealed that mothers felt less guilt and anxiety about separation from their second-borns than they had from their first-borns at a similar age. They were more positive about the effects of separation on the child; however, their concerns about employment-related separation did not change.