本研究目的是探討早產兒於住院期間母親的自尊與依附關係，所採用之研究工具包括：（1）個案基本資料；（2）母親對自我為人母之評量表（maternal self-report inventory, MSRI）；（3）Rosenberg氏自尊量表（Rosenberg self-esteem scale）；及 （4）Leifer氏自我對嬰兒感覺之評量表（how I feel about my baby now scale）。本研究以32位健康狀況穩定且住在新生兒加護中心的早產兒的母親為研究樣本，由於Leifer氏自我對嬰兒感覺之評量表的內在一致性（internal consistency）不適當，因此無法測試出以下二個假設：（1）為人母的自尊和依附行為之間有正相關；（2）母親之整體自尊和依附行為之間有正相關；但仍發現早產兒母親為人母的自尊和整體自尊之間呈現有意義之相關，因此為人母之角色對其自我概念有其影響。研究中發現個案基本資料，如：母親年齡、婚姻狀況、收入、教育程度等與為人母之自尊並無有意義之相關，而整體之自尊會因著年齡、收入及教育程度而增加（p < .05），此外本研究提供臨床護理人員除了需注重早產兒母親的照顧技能之外，還需評估其對自我為人母的看法及依附行為。

　　　　　The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal self-esteem and maternal attachment in mothers of hospitalized premature infants. The research instruments administered included: a demographic sheet, the Maternal Self-Report Inventory (MSRI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Leifer's How I Feel About My Baby Now Scale. Thirty-two mothers whose premature infants were medically stable and hospitalized in the NICU were studied. Two hypotheses on the positive relationships between maternal self-esteem and maternal attachment, and global self-esteem and maternal attachment could not be tested by correlational analyses due to the inadequate internal consistency of the How I Feel About My Baby Now Scale. A significant correlation was found between maternal self-esteem and global self-esteem. Thus, maternal role influenced general self-concept in mothers. In addition, it was found that there were no significant correlations between the MSRI and demographic variables, such as: maternal age, marital status, income, and educational level. Another result indicated that increased global self-esteem was correlated (p < .05) with maternal age, income, and educational level. The results of this study provide clinical nurses to pay attention not only to caregiving skills but also to the mother's appraisal of herself as a mother and attachment behaviors.