Maternal Care and Mental Health - A report on behalf of the World Health Organization

Oct 21, 2026

Uploaded by nayy☆

Maternal Care and Mental Health presents a World Health Organization report prepared for the United Nations programme welfare of homeless children, with authorship by John Bowlby. The contents review adverse effects of maternal deprivation on mental ill-health, synthesize direct and retrospective evidence, and address theoretical problems and research methods. It then focuses on prevention through family function, causes of family failure in Western communities, illegitimacy and deprivation, substitute family models such as adoption and boarding-homes, group care, and administration of child-care services, followed by conclusions, appendices, bibliography, and indexes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages63

Reading Time2 h 39 min

AccessFree to download

Preface to second edition

Preface to first edition

PART I. Adverse Effects of Maternal Deprivation

1. Some origins of mental ill-health

2. Review of evidence on effects of deprivation. I: Direct studies

3. Review of evidence on effects of deprivation. I: Retrospective and follow-up studies

4. Interim conclusions

5. Theoretical problems

6. Research into effects of deprivation

PART II. Prevention of Maternal Deprivation

7. The purpose of the family

8. Causes of family failure in Western communities, with special reference to psychiatric factors

9. Prevention of family failure

10. Illegitimacy and deprivation

11. Substitute families. I: Adoption

12. Substitute families. II: Boarding-homes

13. Group care

14. Care of maladjusted and sick children

15. Administration of child-care services, and problems for research

Conclusion

Appendices

Bibliography

Name index

Subject index

MATERNAL CARE ANDMENTAL HEALTH A report prepared on behalf of the World Health Organizationas a contribution to the United Nations programmefor the welfare of homeless children JOHN BOWLBY,M.A.,M.D. I Director,Child Guidance Department,Tavistock Clinic,LondonConsultant in Mental Health,World Health Organization WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATIONPALAIS DES NATIONS GENEVA 1952 First impression,March 1951Second impression,August 1951Third impression,March 1952 Second edition,May 1952 Originally published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,1951,3,355-534.Thereafter,issued in separate editions in English and in French in the Monograph Seriesof the World Health Organization. CONTENTS Page Preface to second edition.... ……………………………………………………………………………5 Preface to first edition …………………………………………………………………………………………………6 PART I. ADVERSE EFFECTS OF MATERNAL DEPRIVATION 1. Some origins of mental ill-health …………………………………………………………11 2. Review of evidence on effects of deprivation. I:Direct studies 15 3. Review of evidence on effects of deprivation. I:Retrospective and follow-up studies ……………………………………………………………………………30 4. Interim conclusions .. ………………………………………………………………………………………46 5. Theoretical problems ……………………………………………………………………………52 6. Research into effects of deprivation ……………………………………………………59 PART II. PREVENTION OF MATERNAL DEPRIVATION 7. The purpose of the family ……………………………………………………………………67 8. Causes of family failure in Western communities, with special reference to psychiatric factors………………………………………………………………72 9. Prevention of family failure………………………………………………………………………84 10. Illegitimacy and deprivation ……………………………………………………………………93 11. Substitute families. I:Adoption ……………………………………………………101 12. Substitute families. II:Boarding-homes ………………………………………109 13. Group care…………………………………………………………………………………………………………129 14. Care of maladjusted and sick children ………………………………………………139 15. Administration of child-care services, and problems for research 150 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………157 APPENDICES Appendix 1. Various retrospective studies relating mental illness to deprivation and broken homes ……………………………………………………………………161 Appendix 2. Differences in Rorschach responses between institution children and others. . ………………………………………………………………………………………………166 Appendix 3. Note on Goldfarb's study of social adjustment in rela- tion to age of entry to an institution…………………………………………………………169 Appendix 4. Note on statistics regarding causes of children being taken into care away from home………………………………………………………………170 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………………………………175 Name index……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………181 Subject index …………………………………………………………………………………………………………183 12323 TABLES Page I.Order of appearance of adverse reactions in institution infants(Gesell&Amatruda).................... ... 17 II.Mean developmental quotient of infants at beginning and end of firstyearwith regard to social class and to experience(Spitz).......... 18 ⅢI.Comparative DQs and IQs of institution and family children aged fromone to four years.................. . .... 19 IV.Incidence of separation and affectionless character in a group of thievesand a control group of emotionally disturbed children who did not steal(Bowlby)......:........ . :. . ... 33 V.Incidence of adverse genetic factors in a group of thieves and a controlgroup of emotionally disturbed children who did not steal(Bowlby).:,·34 VI.Differences between children who had spent their first three years in aninstitution and controls who had not (Goldfarb)..... ... 37 VII.Incidence of problems in children who had spent their first three years inan institution and controls who had not(Goldfarb)...... ... 38 VII.Comparison of social adjustment of children who had spent five years ormore in an institution and those who had had no institutional care(T

FAQs

What is the report’s main focus regarding homeless children and mental health?

The report examines how maternal deprivation relates to mental ill-health in children and discusses approaches for preventing such deprivation and improving care outcomes.

What topics are covered in Part I?

Part I reviews adverse effects of maternal deprivation, including origins of mental ill-health, evidence from direct studies and retrospective/follow-up studies, interim conclusions, theoretical problems, and research into effects of deprivation.

How does Part II address prevention and alternative care options?

Part II covers the purpose of the family, causes of family failure in Western communities with psychiatric factors, prevention strategies, illegitimacy and deprivation, substitute families (adoption and boarding-homes), group care, care of maladjusted and sick children, and administration issues for child-care services.

Oct 21, 2026

Uploaded by nayy☆