This research correlates maternal sociodemographic and psychological data and dimensions of maternal behavior at four and twelve months with dimensions of infant adjustment and competence at twelve months. Interviews of 321 low-income mothers were completed during the third trimester of pregnancy, at four months and at twelve months. Sociodemograhpic data and brief measures of maternal receptive vocabulary, locus of control, conforming values for children, and maternal attitudes toward interactions with the infant were collected during these interviews. Observations of maternal behavior during bathing, dressing, and play were collected at four and twelve months. Infants' behavior was rated after completion of the home visit on 31 items that had been compiled from observations of infant behavior. Maternal behavior dimensions of interaction/stimulation, acceptance vs. rejection, and consoling the crying infant that were insolated from factor analyses were correlated with infant behavior dimensions of receptive and expressive communication and of social and emotional behavior. Data analysis of 83 percent of the sample show that maternal sociodemographic and psychological characteristics and the maternal behavior dimension of interaction/stimulation are significantly correlated with one another and with infant receptive and expressive communication. These findings suggest that stable maternal behaviors and characteristics may have early, continuing and cumulative influence on the child's development. (Author/MP)