Examined were differences in satisfaction with parenthood among 125 primiparous, middle-class, working and non-working women above and below 30 years of age who completed multiple-choice questionnaires within 6 months of the birth of their child. Questions pertained to responsive attitudes toward infants, attitudes toward women's roles, and adjustment to parenthood. Findings indicated that working mothers differed from homemakers on dimensions of adjustment. Breast feeding was found to be related to satisfaction with parenthood among non-working mothers and bottle feeding was associated with satisfaction among working mothers. Among bottle-feeding mothers, older mothers were more satisfied than younger mothers if they worked, and younger mothers were more satisfied than older mothers if they did not work. Older mothers endorsed more female role values that were less traditional than did younger mothers. Mothers who did not work and held non-traditional role values were least satisfied with parenthood. Non-working older mothers having non-responsive attitudes toward infants were less satisfied with parenthood than were others. The most satisfied mothers in the sample worked outside the home and held strong traditional role values. It was unclear whether older, non-traditional or non-infant-centered homemakers derive less satisfaction when deprived of the stimulation and ego-gratification of work, or whether certain unmeasured personality variables contribute to a failure to embrace rewarding roles. Tables are included. (RH)