The effect of a mother's paid work on the welfare of her young children has been the subject of much debate in the last 30 years. Theorists using a psychodynamic orientation argue that a child not reared primarily by its mother during the first three to five years of its life will suffer various negative consequences from this "maternal deprivation," ranging from emotional damage and lowered intellectual potential to inadequate physical development (Bowlby 1960). Maturational theorists believe that the development of the child is a more robust process, which can proceed well under a variety of family configurations if there is adequate child care. They argue that the effect of maternal paid work depends on conditions such as the mother's hourly wage or the distance between work and home (Scarr 1984). Other factors known to influence outcomes for children are the mother's satisfaction with her chosen role and the amount of time spent on child care for children under two years of age (Schwartz 1983).