‘Both parents should care for babies’: A cross-sectional, cross-cultural comparison of adolescents’ breastfeeding intentions, and the influence of shared-parenting beliefs

Swanson, Vivien; Hannula, Leena; Eriksson, Linda; Wallin, Malin Häggkvist; Strutton, Joan N.

doi:10.1186/s12884-017-1372-y

Cited by 18 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The decision to breastfeed is often considered the mother’s responsibility and is likely determined in the prenatal period. In a cross-sectional survey of male and female adolescents (12–18 years of age, N = 1064), including students in Texas ( n = 170), Swanson and colleagues (2017) found that parenting beliefs and gender norms related to parenting roles influenced breastfeeding intentions. Findings support the need to explore and leverage factors impacting on the breastfeeding intentions of males prior to fatherhood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship among Breastfeeding Exposure, Knowledge, and Attitudes in Collegiate Males Residing in East Texas

2018

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Background: Researchers exploring breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge among women suggest the decision to breastfeed is influenced by the male partner, yet few studies address males. Because collegiate males will soon enter fatherhood, assessment of their attitudes and knowledge may inform interventions aimed at increasing intention to breastfeed. Research aim: This study aimed to describe collegiate males’ exposure to, attitude toward, and knowledge about breastfeeding. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was used with males ≥ 18 years of age enrolled at a Texas public university. Attitude indices measured included social limitations, public displays of breastfeeding, and employer accommodations. Descriptive statistics, correlational and regression analyses were employed. Results: The participants’ ( N = 949) average age was 25.48 years; > 80% reported not being fathers. Exposure to breastfeeding was high; > 80% witnessed breastfeeding and/or had someone close breastfeed. High attitude scores indicated social acceptability of breastfeeding. Knowledge appeared limited: only 16% identified the recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life; > 50% overlooked the reduced risk for overweight/obesity, ear infections, diarrhea, or food allergies. Correlations between knowledge, exposure, total attitude, and index scores were positive ( p < .01) except for the public displays index. Stepwise multiple regression determined that breastfeeding exposure, knowledge scores, and father’s educational level predicted total attitude score, ( R2 = 0.13, F (3,851) = 44.02, p < .01). Conclusion: The positive attitudes outcome among this male population is promising for breastfeeding support and advocacy. Education efforts improving knowledge will likely increase behavioral intention, resulting in increased breastfeeding rates and duration.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship among Breastfeeding Exposure, Knowledge, and Attitudes in Collegiate Males Residing in East Texas

2018

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“…Several studies have found (23,29) that breastfeeding outcome is not exclusively in uence by the mother decisions, emphasizing the importance of the role that the partner or father plays, as well as, extended family support (mothers, aunts, etc) and breastfeeding support groups. In the present study, we did not nd any word referring to masculine or paternal gures in the SR of breastfeeding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Representations of Breastfeeding in Health Sciences Students: A First Step to Strengthening their Training

Grover-Baltazar¹,

Sandoval-Rodríguez²,

Macedo-Ojeda³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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BackgroundBreastfeeding is a complex phenomenon involving biological, affective, and socio-cultural aspects. Its definition is built by a diversity of beliefs, attitudes, traditions, and myths. Being aware of the connection between the biological and socio-cultural concepts into the Social Representations of breastfeeding in health sciences, will allow us to have a better comprehension of their attitudes/behavior towards breastfeeding. Therefore, the objective of this study is to describe the Social Representations on breastfeeding among Mexican health sciences students.MethodsThis study was carried out based on the structuralist approach of the Social Representations Theory. Data collection was done with free-listing questionnaires with a “breastfeeding” as inducer word among nutrition, medical, and nursing undergraduate students (n=124). The analyses used were: similitude of words and of the meanings of words, prototypical and categorical analysis.ResultsThe findings suggest that the structure of the social representation is composed of breastfeeding components (baby, mother and milk), affective (attachment, love and link), biological (nutrition, breasts and health), and socio-cultural elements (taboo, responsibility and economic). Within the nucleus, only instrumental elements are found, whereas in the peripheries, biological, affective, and socio-cultural elements are observed.ConclusionsThe structure of the social representations of breastfeeding in Mexican undergraduate students in health sciences focuses on instrumental aspects, leaving the background elements with more scientific meanings typical of their training. These results, replicated in different contexts, will allow the creation of educational strategies adapted to strengthen the breastfeeding training of health students to improve breastfeeding promotion in the society.

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“…Both 'instrumental' support, focused on speci c stressors such as worries about the baby, sleep problems and loneliness, and 'emotional' support for the parental role are important. Expectations of 'ideal' parenting roles increasingly appear to emphasise the importance of 'shared parenting' [32]. Practical shared parenting (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parenting Stress in the Early Years – A Survey of the Impact of Breastfeeding and Social Support for Women in Finland and the UK

Swanson

Hannula

2021

Preprint

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BackgroundBeing a new parent can be both joyful and stressful. Parenting stress is associated with poorer health and well-being for parents and infant, and increased psychological distress.For new mothers, physical and hormonal changes, expectations of mothering and demands of a new baby may cause additional stress. Breastfeeding is promoted as optimal for maternal and infant health, but can have both positive and negative psychological impacts. Formal and informal social support can offset parenting and breastfeeding stress. Source, content and context of support for new parents are important considerations. This study compares two countries with different parenting and breastfeeding contexts, Finland (more supportive) and the UK (less supportive), investigating the role of breastfeeding stress, self-efficacy and social support as predictors of stress and role strain for new mothers..MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was completed by 1550 breastfeeding mothers of infants up to 2 years old, recruited via social media platforms in Finland and the UK. Predictors of parenting stress and strain, including demograpic factors, childbirth experiences, breastfeeding and social support were investigated. Results We found fewer differences between countries than expected, perhaps due to demographic and contextual differences. Women in Finland reported better childbirth experiences, more positive breastfeeding attitudes, and more self-efficacy than in the UK. Levels of parenting stress were similar in both countries. Women in the UK reported more parental role strain, but fewer breastfeeding stressors. Participants accessed more informal than formal supports, including their partner for parenting, and facebook groups and family for breastfeeding. Analysis suggested breastfeeding stress and social support had significant direct effects – respectively increasing and reducing parenting stress and role strain, but no moderating effects of social supportsuggesting support did not change the relationship between breastfeeding and parenting stress. ConclusionsResults have important implications for the provision of breastfeeding and parenting support for new mothers.Simple interventions to manage stress for mothers in the postnatal period could be beneficial and are easily delivered by supporters. As shown elsewhere, socio-economic and cultural factors are crucial influences on parenting experiences.

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‘Both parents should care for babies’: A cross-sectional, cross-cultural comparison of adolescents’ breastfeeding intentions, and the influence of shared-parenting beliefs

Cited by 18 publications

References 34 publications

Relationship among Breastfeeding Exposure, Knowledge, and Attitudes in Collegiate Males Residing in East Texas

Relationship among Breastfeeding Exposure, Knowledge, and Attitudes in Collegiate Males Residing in East Texas

Social Representations of Breastfeeding in Health Sciences Students: A First Step to Strengthening their Training

Parenting Stress in the Early Years – A Survey of the Impact of Breastfeeding and Social Support for Women in Finland and the UK

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