Maternal Anxiety During Solid Food Introduction: Insights from a Comparative Feeding Practices Study

Abstract

Background The introduction of solid foods to infants involves various feeding techniques. While these methods are often studied for their nutritional implications, their impact on maternal mental health, particularly on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), remains understudied. Research aim : This study aimed to explore the association between feeding practices and maternal GAD levels during the initial stages of solid food introduction. Design: This study recruited mothers and their infants, categorizing them into three groups based on feeding practices: BLW, TW, and CW. Maternal GAD levels were assessed at regular intervals over a six-month period, allowing for the examination of any changes in anxiety levels associated with different feeding techniques. Statistical analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between feeding practices and maternal GAD scores, controlling for relevant covariates. Results Our results consistently indicate that mothers practicing BLW experienced significantly greater levels of anxiety across all six months, as well as cumulatively, than mothers using both TW and CW. Compared with mothers in the TW (8.1 ± 3.3) and CW (8.3 ± 2.0) groups, mothers in the BLW group had the highest cumulative anxiety score (15.3 ± 1.7). Conclusions The results of our study revealed a persistent presence of GAD throughout the 6-month duration of the study. Notably, GAD levels consistently remained higher among mothers who opted for BLW than among those who followed other feeding methods.