The role of psychosocial factors in exclusive breastfeeding to six months postpartum.
OBJECTIVE
to investigate the psychosocial variables associated with the ability to exclusively breastfeed to six months postpartum. Additionally, to evaluate a conceptual model of psychosocial correlates of exclusive breastfeeding duration.


DESIGN
online, retrospective questionnaire.


SETTING
the questionnaire was placed online and participants accessed it through social networking sites including groups relating to breastfeeding, motherhood and parenting. Participants were also able to share the link with their own networks. This online setting facilitated recruitment of a wide range of Australian and international participants.


PARTICIPANTS
174 women aged 18 years and older who had given birth between six months to two years prior. Participants completed an online questionnaire, which asked them to report on three time points: pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy and during the first six months postpartum. Data were collected from June to December 2011.


MEASUREMENTS
psychometrically validated tools such as the breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, Body Attitude Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, Fetal Health Locus of Control Scale, and the brief COPE scale were used to measure psychosocial variables. Additional scales were developed by the researchers and met scale reliability criteria.


FINDINGS
correlation analyses, t-tests and path analysis were used to statistically analyse the data. Results showed that women who exclusively breast fed to six months postpartum exhibited higher intention to exclusively breastfeed, breastfeeding self-efficacy, comfort breastfeeding in public, perceived physical strength and reported less perceived breastfeeding difficulties. Path analyses indicated that breastfeeding self-efficacy was a strong significant predictor of both exclusive breastfeeding intention and duration. Maternal attitude towards pregnancy (both during pregnancy and postpartum), psychological adjustment and early breastfeeding difficulties were also found to be significant predictors of exclusive breastfeeding intention and duration.


KEY CONCLUSIONS
psychosocial factors are likely to play a significant role in the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding for six months post-birth. Future research should adopt a prospective study design to examine the influence of psychosocial factors systematically and rigorously.


IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
longitudinal, prospective studies are needed to further examine the role of psychosocial factors on exclusive breastfeeding outcomes. Interventions, which involve improving psychosocial factors such as breastfeeding self-efficacy, may improve exclusive breastfeeding outcomes.
['de Jager|Emily|E|', 'Broadbent|Jaclyn|J|', 'Fuller-Tyszkiewicz|Matthew|M|', 'Skouteris|Helen|H|']
D000328:Adult D001942:Breast Feeding D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007231:Infant, Newborn D008297:Male D008880:Midwifery D009034:Mother-Child Relations D049590:Postpartum Period D011247:Pregnancy D012189:Retrospective Studies D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D055815:Young Adult
Psychosocial factors Exclusive breastfeeding Breastfeeding duration