Data are presented from a long-term follow-up study investigating the interplay of various factors contributing to the developmental outcome of prematurely born children. Fifty-eight low-risk pre-term Hungarian children are compared to 100 full-term children, from birth to age 6, on socioeconomic status, family climate, and intellectual stimulation. Maternal attitudes are analyzed in terms of perfectionism, over-permissiveness, over-protectiveness, rejecting/neglecting, predictability, and authoritarian/democratic elements. The evidence indicates that perinatal risk conditions such as preterm birth have a differential impact on mental development depending upon social-environmental factors. Advantaged family circumstances may reduce or even fully compensate for the adverse effects of perinatal risks, while a disadvantaged environment is likely to amplify them. Includes 59 references. (JDD)