The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to determine whether a relationship exists between maternal depressive symptomatology and children's emotional well-being, and (2) to determine specifically whether it is the depressed mother's lack of supportiveness that affects her child's well-being. A total of 160 nonclinical population mother/child pairs from low- and moderately low-income families participated. A 3- to 4-hour structured interview on stress and well-being was administered to each mother. The interview obtained information about the mother's mental and physical health, relationships with family and friends, parenting and child care practices, family finances, and contacts with mental health and welfare institutions. Each child was administered a half-hour interview that included self-report scales measuring locus of control, self-esteem, happiness in the parent/child relationship, and worries, as well as questions about the child's social support networks. In general, results support the hypothesis that maternal depression and amount of maternal support are related to children's emotional well-being. They also suggest that maternal depression and amount of maternal support are independent of each other, each exerting a unique effect on children. (MP)