Aim. To explore associations among breastfeeding duration, maternal personality
and maternal attitudes and experiences of breastfeeding.
Background. Understanding influences on breastfeeding initiation and duration is
critical to increasing breastfeeding rates and supporting new mothers. Maternal
characteristics such as self-efficacy, knowledge and confidence are known to
enable women to breastfeed, but little is known about the influence of maternal
trait personality on breastfeeding.
Design. An exploratory cross-sectional survey.
Method. A total of 602 mothers with an infant aged 6–12 months old completed
a self-report questionnaire examining maternal trait personality, breastfeeding
duration and attitudes and experiences of breastfeeding. Data were collected
between March–June 2009.
Results. Mothers who reported high levels of extraversion, emotional stability
and conscientiousness were significantly more likely to initiate and continue
breastfeeding for a longer duration. Attitudes and experiences significantly
associated with these personality traits such as perceived difficulties and lack of
support may explain these patterns. For example, characteristics associated with
introversion and anxiety may prevent women from seeking support or challenging
negative attitudes of others at this critical time.
Conclusion. Understanding the influence of maternal personality may thus be a
useful tool in antenatal support to recognize women who may need extra,
directed support while facilitating discussion of potential barriers to
breastfeeding.
Aim. To explore associations among breastfeeding duration, maternal personalityand maternal attitudes and experiences of breastfeeding.Background. Understanding influences on breastfeeding initiation and duration iscritical to increasing breastfeeding rates and supporting new mothers. Maternalcharacteristics such as self-efficacy, knowledge and confidence are known toenable women to breastfeed, but little is known about the influence of maternaltrait personality on breastfeeding.Design. An exploratory cross-sectional survey.Method. A total of 602 mothers with an infant aged 6–12 months old completeda self-report questionnaire examining maternal trait personality, breastfeedingduration and attitudes and experiences of breastfeeding. Data were collectedbetween March–June 2009.Results. Mothers who reported high levels of extraversion, emotional stabilityand conscientiousness were significantly more likely to initiate and continuebreastfeeding for a longer duration. Attitudes and experiences significantlyassociated with these personality traits such as perceived difficulties and lack ofsupport may explain these patterns. For example, characteristics associated withintroversion and anxiety may prevent women from seeking support or challengingnegative attitudes of others at this critical time.Conclusion. Understanding the influence of maternal personality may thus be auseful tool in antenatal support to recognize women who may need extra,directed support while facilitating discussion of potential barriers tobreastfeeding.
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