The relationship between psychological factors and maternal social support to breastfeeding process

Abstract

IntroductionChildbirth is a stressful factor that can trigger disorders such as depression in women. The various problems characteristic to the puerperal period make mothers more prone than ever to stress, anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to determine relationship between psychological factors and social support and breastfeeding process in mothers presenting to healthcare centers in Shahrood, Iran.MethodsThe present cross-sectional study was conducted on 465 mothers with infants aged one to six months, presenting to Shahrood healthcare centers in 2015–16. Data were obtained using a researcher-designed demographic and breastfeeding questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Data were analyzed in SPSS-18 using measures of central tendency, the Chi-square test, the t-test, Mann-Whitney’s test and Fisher’s exact test and Logistic Regression Model. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.ResultsThe prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 68.4% in the study population. The results revealed a significant relationship between state and trait anxiety and exclusive breastfeeding (p=0.004 and p=0.006, respectively). According to the results of the logistic regression, each unit of increase in the mother’s mean state of anxiety protects the chances of non-exclusive breastfeeding up to about 54% (OR=0.462).ConclusionThe findings suggest that maternal anxiety can reduce the chances of exclusive breastfeeding. It is therefore recommended to actively monitor and manage maternal anxiety in the postpartum period so as to support exclusive breastfeeding.

The relationship between breastfeeding attitudes and perceived stress levels of Turkish mothers

“…In the literature, it has been reported that successful breastfeeding depends not only on the physiological factors but also on the mother's social and psychological conditions and that mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and stress have negative effects on breastfeeding functions . In the present study, it was aimed to assess mothers’ perceived stress levels and breastfeeding attitudes in the postpartum period, and the relationship between their perceived stress and attitudes towards breastfeeding.…”

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice in a cohort of women from Cali, Colombia

“…This study found that the self-perception of sureness regarding the initiation and maintenance of LME in the immediate puerperium is associated with its duration 16 , 33 . This information obtained from primiparous women residing in Cali, with no practical experience in breastfeeding, suggests that there are factors of the immediate puerperium implicated in the causality of the duration of LME.…”

“…Este estudio encontró que la autopercepción de seguridad frente al inicio y mantenimiento de la LME en el puerperio inmediato está involucrada en la duración 16 , 33 . Esta información obtenida de mujeres primíparas residentes en Cali, sin experiencia práctica en lactancia, sugiere que en la causalidad de la duración de LME están implicados factores del puerperio inmediato.…”

Women’s Mental Health as a Factor Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding and Breastfeeding Duration: Data from a Longitudinal Study in Greece

“…Conversely, the early cessation of breastfeeding has been shown to have a negative effect on a woman’s psychology, as it has been associated with increased anxiety and depression symptoms within 6 months after delivery [ 26 ] and appears to be an aggravating risk factor, especially for women who are mentally burdened with pathological symptoms [ 26 ]. In general, low breastfeeding rates, a shorter duration of exclusive breastfeeding, and the cessation of breastfeeding before the completion of 6 months are associated with increased anxiety and/or depression and contribute to the mother’s disappointment [ 37 , 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”