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Thompson KA, White JP, Bardone-Cone AM. Associations between pressure to breastfeed and depressive, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and eating disorder symptoms among postpartum women. Psychiatry Res 2023; 328:115432. [PMID: 37669578 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data from qualitative interviews indicate postpartum individuals feel pressure from their healthcare providers, the media, and their partners to breastfeed their infant(s). However, the link between pressure to breastfeed and maternal mental health symptoms has not been evaluated quantitatively. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the associations between perceived pressure to breastfeed from various sources and depressive, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and eating disorder symptoms among postpartum individuals. METHODS Participants were 306 women, ages 18-39, who gave birth in the past 12 months in the United States (primarily in North Carolina). They completed an online survey about their health history (including mental health symptoms) and breastfeeding experiences. RESULTS Results found postpartum women perceived more pressure to breastfeed from healthcare providers and from the media compared to pressure to breastfeed from their partners. Pressure from healthcare providers was associated with depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and eating disorder symptoms, but not with anxiety symptoms. Pressure from the media was associated with only depressive and eating disorder symptoms. Pressure from partners was not significantly associated with mental health symptoms. Above and beyond the other sources of pressure, pressure from healthcare providers explained a unique proportion of variance of obsessive-compulsive and eating disorder symptoms. LIMITATIONS Limitations include the cross-sectional design (which limits causal interpretations), and the homogenous sample (87% identified as White). CONCLUSIONS Messaging and information about breastfeeding (particularly from healthcare providers) should be reviewed to determine if there is language which could be perceived as "pressure." It is important to screen for a variety of mental health symptoms, including eating disorders, in perinatal populations when discussing breastfeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Thompson
- Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (MiCOR) Program, Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States; Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
| | - Jennifer P White
- Department of Psychiatry, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Anna M Bardone-Cone
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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2
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Stein SF, Rios JM, Gearhardt AN, Nuttall AK, Riley HO, Kaciroti N, Rosenblum KL, Lumeng JC, Miller AL. Food addiction and dietary restraint in postpartum women: The role of childhood trauma exposure and postpartum depression. Appetite 2023; 187:106589. [PMID: 37146651 PMCID: PMC11079996 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The early postpartum period is a sensitive time for understanding women's high-risk eating (i.e., eating behavior associated with negative health outcomes) given potential long-term eating behavior implications for infants. Food addiction and dietary restraint are two high-risk eating phenotypes associated with long-term negative health outcomes that have been theoretically linked. Yet, no research has considered how much these constructs overlap during the early postpartum period. The present study sought to characterize these two high-risk eating phenotypes in postpartum women to examine whether these are distinct constructs with specific etiologies and to inform future targets of intervention. Women (N = 277) in the early postpartum period reported on high-risk eating, childhood trauma exposure, depression symptoms, and pre-pregnancy weight. Women's height was measured and pre-pregnancy BMI was calculated. We conducted bivariate correlations and path analysis to characterize the relationship between food addiction and dietary restraint, controlling for pre-pregnancy BMI. Results showed that food addiction and dietary restraint were not significantly associated and that women's childhood trauma exposure and postpartum depression were associated with food addiction but not dietary restraint. Sequential mediation revealed that higher levels of childhood trauma exposure were associated with worse postpartum depression and, in turn, greater food addiction during the early postpartum period. Findings suggest that food addiction and dietary restraint have distinct psychosocial predictors and etiological pathways, which suggests important construct validity differences between the two high-risk eating phenotypes. Interventions seeking to address food addiction in postpartum women and mitigate the impact of this high-risk eating phenotype on the next generation may benefit from treating postpartum depression, especially in women with histories of childhood trauma exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara F Stein
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Julia M Rios
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan College of Literature, Science and the Arts, 530 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Ashley N Gearhardt
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan College of Literature, Science and the Arts, 530 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Amy K Nuttall
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, 552 West Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Hurley O Riley
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Niko Kaciroti
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Katherine L Rosenblum
- Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Medicine, 4250 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Julie C Lumeng
- Department of Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, 1522 Simpson Rd. East., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Alison L Miller
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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Kapa HM, Litteral JL, Keim SA, Jackson JL, Schofield KA, Crerand CE. Body Image Dissatisfaction, Breastfeeding Experiences, and Self-Efficacy in Postpartum Women with and Without Eating Disorder Symptoms. J Hum Lact 2022; 38:633-643. [PMID: 35139671 DOI: 10.1177/08903344221076529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women during the postpartum period undergo significant changes which affect body image, eating behaviors, and, potentially, breastfeeding. There is limited research about relationships among these variables, particularly related to breastfeeding experiences and self-efficacy. RESEARCH AIMS To determine: (1) the associations between eating disorder symptoms and body image, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and breastfeeding experiences; and (2) the differences in body image, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding experiences, and breastfeeding status of postpartum women with and without clinically significant eating disorder symptoms. METHODS A secondary data analysis using a 2-group correlational, cross-sectional online survey design was used. Participants with infants 2-6 months old who had breastfed their infant at least once (N = 204) were recruited nationally to complete a cross-sectional survey assessing breastfeeding and postpartum physical and mental health using validated measures. Linear and logistic regression evaluated differences between participants with and without eating disorder symptoms regarding their body image, breastfeeding experience and self-efficacy, and breastfeeding status (continued vs. discontinued) at 2 months postpartum. RESULTS Clinical eating disorder symptoms were reported by 9.8% (n = 20). Participants with clinical eating disorder symptoms reported lower appearance evaluations (B = -0.53, 95% CI [-0.93, -0.14]) and body image satisfaction (B = -0.55, 95% CI [-0.87, -0.23]); reduced odds of breastfeeding at 2 months postpartum (AOR = 0.15, 95% CI [0.04, 0.56]); and lower breastfeeding self-efficacy (B = -7.70, 95% CI [-14.82, -0.58] relative to participants without clinical symptoms. No differences between groups were observed for breastfeeding experiences. CONCLUSIONS Participants with clinically significant eating disorder symptoms are at risk for early breastfeeding discontinuation and lower breastfeeding self-efficacy. Our findings have implications for future research and clinical care practices, including screening for body image concerns and eating disorder symptoms and supporting breastfeeding self-efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary M Kapa
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jennifer L Litteral
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sarah A Keim
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jamie L Jackson
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kyle A Schofield
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Canice E Crerand
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Plastic Surgery, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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4
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Kebbe M, Altazan AD, Beyl RA, Gilmore LA, Redman LM. Infant Feeding Varies Across Eating Behavior and Feeding Modalities in Mothers With Low Income. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2022; 54:827-834. [PMID: 35764453 PMCID: PMC9464659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2022.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine if eating behaviors in mothers with low income relate to attitudes toward infant feeding and whether associations differed between breastfeeding and formula-feeding mothers. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS Forty postpartum women (aged ≥ 18 years, body mass index ≥ 25 and < 40 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) in the Louisiana Women, Infants, and Children program participated in a telehealth postpartum intervention for health and weight loss. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Maternal eating behaviors and infant feeding styles, assessed 6-8 weeks after birth (baseline) using validated questionnaires. ANALYSIS Significance was detected using independent t tests, chi-square tests for independence, or linear models (P < 0.05). RESULTS Most mothers formula-fed (n = 27, 68%). In formula-feeding mothers, maternal disinhibition and perceived hunger were positively associated with restrictive infant feeding (β = 0.41, P <0.001 and β = 0.41, P = 0.001, respectively). These relationships were significantly higher (Δ = -0.85, P = 0.006 and Δ = -0.59, P = 0.003, respectively) than among breastfeeding mothers. Comparatively, pressuring/overfeeding was lower in formula-feeding mothers than among breastfeeding mothers with dietary restraint (Δ slopes: 1.06, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS In this cohort of mothers with low income, maternal eating behavior was associated with infant feeding styles only when feeding modality was considered. Mothers may benefit from education on how their eating behaviors can influence their infants and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Kebbe
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - Abby D Altazan
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - Robbie A Beyl
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - L Anne Gilmore
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Leanne M Redman
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
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5
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Breastfeeding, body image, and weight control behavior among postpartum women. Body Image 2021; 38:201-209. [PMID: 33933997 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this study was to examine breastfeeding behavior and attitudes as predictors of women's body image and weight control behavior. This study extends past research by focusing on positive body image variables including body appreciation and perceived body functionality. Women (N = 597) from the United States who had recently birthed biological babies ages 0-12 months participated in an online study. Current breastfeeding rates were high (86 %), and average breastfeeding duration was approximately 3 months. Women who were currently breastfeeding indicated more positive body images and less likelihood of engaging in maladaptive weight control behaviors than women who were no longer breastfeeding or had never breastfed their baby. Women's positive attitudes toward breastfeeding were associated with awareness and appreciation of body functionality and fewer maladaptive weight control behaviors. These findings extend research on the health benefits of positive body image and suggest that breastfeeding may occur within a constellation of beliefs and behaviors indicative of positive body image.
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6
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Donofry SD, Emery RL, Kolko Conlon RP, Germeroth LJ, Wang B, Cheng Y, Levine MD. Documenting the course of loss of control over eating prior to, during and after pregnancy among women with pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity. Int J Eat Disord 2021; 54:633-638. [PMID: 33368433 PMCID: PMC8561745 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Loss of control over eating (LOC) is common among women, particularly those with overweight and obesity (OV/OB), and predicts weight gain. Given the importance of understanding weight and eating behaviors during pregnancy, we sought to characterize LOC across pregnancy and the postpartum period among women with pre-pregnancy OV/OB. METHODS Pregnant women (N = 257; 28.44 ± 5.48 years old) with self-reported OV/OB prior to pregnancy were interviewed using a pregnancy-adapted version of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE-PV). Pre-pregnancy LOC was retrospectively assessed during the first trimester and then prospectively assessed monthly throughout pregnancy and postpartum over the course of seven assessments. RESULTS Rates of LOC were significantly higher during pregnancy compared to prior to ( χ12 =44.845, p < .01) and after ( χ12 =36.379, p < .01) pregnancy, with 37% (n = 95) of women reporting ≥1 LOC episode during pregnancy. LOC during pregnancy was associated with higher likelihood of LOC postpartum. Higher age (OR = 1.084, p = .04) and identifying as a minority (OR = 0.344, p = .02) was associated with greater likelihood of experiencing LOC during pregnancy only. DISCUSSION LOC during pregnancy is common among women with pre-pregnancy OV/OB, suggesting that screening and intervention for LOC during pregnancy may be warranted. Future research is necessary to examine the relationship between LOC during pregnancy and maternal and infant health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon D. Donofry
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Rebecca L. Emery
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Rachel P. Kolko Conlon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lisa J. Germeroth
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Bang Wang
- Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yu Cheng
- Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Michele D. Levine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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7
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Oken E, Fields DA, Lovelady CA, Redman LM. TOS Scientific Position Statement: Breastfeeding and Obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2017; 25:1864-1866. [PMID: 29086503 PMCID: PMC9048856 DOI: 10.1002/oby.22024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David A Fields
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Cheryl A Lovelady
- Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Leanne M Redman
- Clinical Sciences Division, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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8
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Associations between bottle-feeding intensity and maternal encouragement of bottle-emptying. Public Health Nutr 2017; 20:3090-3098. [DOI: 10.1017/s1368980017002166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveTo explore longitudinal associations between bottle-feeding and maternal encouragement of infant bottle-emptying during the first 6 months of infancy.DesignMothers completed questionnaires during the third trimester of pregnancy, then monthly during the first 6 months postpartum. Questionnaires assessed family demographics, maternal and infant weight status, infant feeding patterns and maternal encouragement of infant bottle-emptying.SettingThe Infant Feeding Practices Study 2, conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.SubjectsMothers (n 1776).ResultsRepeated-measures regression was used to explore associations between bottle-feeding intensity (BFI; defined as the percentage of daily feedings that were from a bottle) and encouragement of bottle-emptying. Mothers who reported consistently high or consistently low BFI also exhibited consistently higher or lower frequency of encouraging their infants to empty the bottle (respectively) across the first 6 months of infancy, whereas mothers who reported increases in their BFI also exhibited concomitant increases in the frequency to which they encouraged their infants to finish the bottle. More frequent encouragement of bottle-emptying was also associated with feeding expressed breast milk (P<0·001), and lower parity (P=0·01), pre-pregnancy BMI (P=0·002) and infant birth weight (P=0·001).ConclusionsMore frequent use of bottles for infant feeding was significantly associated with more frequent encouragement of bottle-emptying. Further research using causal designs is needed to better understand whether the use of bottles promotes this controlling feeding practice or whether mothers with more controlling feeding practices opt to bottle-feed.
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9
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Mancini K. Body Image, Eating Attitudes and Breastfeeding Intention: Implications for Mental Health and Maternal Child Nurses. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2017; 38:750-755. [PMID: 28574762 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2017.1324928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating are often overlooked as personal factors that may affect pregnancy, postpartum, and infant feeding method. The current study compared body image, eating attitudes, and breastfeeding intention of first-time breastfeeding mothers to first-time non-breastfeeding mothers. A two-group, comparative design was used to analyze data for first-time mothers recruited through a large pediatric practice with multiple offices. Although there was no significant difference in body image scores between the groups, the literature suggests that body image dissatisfaction can affect the transition to motherhood and lead to more serious mental health issues. Prevention of psychiatric disorders such as eating disorders can be addressed early with information regarding body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Findings from this study have implications for mental health and maternal child health providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Mancini
- a College of Nursing and Public Health , Adelphi University , Garden City , New York , USA
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10
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Ventura AK. Associations between Breastfeeding and Maternal Responsiveness: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Adv Nutr 2017; 8:495-510. [PMID: 28507014 PMCID: PMC5421127 DOI: 10.3945/an.116.014753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent recommendations and prevention programs have focused on the promotion of responsive feeding during infancy, but more research is needed to understand best practices for fostering responsive feeding during early life. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the accumulating bodies of evidence aimed at understanding associations between mothers' feeding experiences and responsive feeding in an attempt to clarify the nature of associations between feeding mode and responsive feeding. A literature search was conducted between January and October 2016; articles were collected from PsychINFO, Medline, and CINAHL, as well as from references in published research and reviews. Article inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) empirical research, 2) included a measure of infant feeding, 3) included a measure of maternal responsiveness, 4) study conducted in human participants, 5) available in English, and 6) study conducted in a developed and/or high-income country. Forty-three studies were identified. Cross-sectional observational studies consistently reported greater responsiveness among breastfeeding mothers than among formula-/bottle-feeding mothers. In addition, longitudinal studies showed that longer breastfeeding durations predicted lower use of nonresponsive feeding practices during later childhood, and some, but not all, found that breastfeeding mothers showed greater increases in responsiveness across infancy than did formula-/bottle-feeding mothers. However, a limited number of longitudinal studies also reported that greater responsiveness during early infancy predicted longer breastfeeding durations. A common limitation among these studies is the correlational nature of their designs and lack of prenatal measures of maternal responsiveness, which hinders our understanding of causal mechanisms. Although 2 randomized clinical trials aimed at promoting maternal responsiveness did not find effects of the intervention on breastfeeding outcomes, these findings were limited by the way in which breastfeeding outcomes were assessed. In sum, although there is consistent evidence for an association between breastfeeding and responsive feeding, more research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison K Ventura
- Department of Kinesiology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
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11
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Brown A. Differences in eating behaviour, well-being and personality between mothers following baby-led vs. traditional weaning styles. MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION 2015; 12:826-37. [PMID: 25623385 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Baby-led weaning, where infants self-feed family foods in place of traditional spoon-feeding of purees, is continuing to grow in popularity. Evidence is emerging which suggests that the method may promote healthier eating behaviour and weight gain in children, but the research is in its infancy. One issue is the self-selecting nature of participants to the approach. Although those who follow a baby-led approach are known to have a higher education and more professional occupation, little is known about wider maternal characteristics, which might affect either adoption of or outcomes of the method. The aim of this study was to explore differences in maternal characteristics between those adopting a baby-led or traditional approach. Six hundred four mothers with an infant aged 6-12 months completed a questionnaire including a copy of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and depression scales) and Ten Item Personality Questionnaire (TIPQ) alongside details of weaning approach (baby-led vs. traditional). Mothers who adopted a baby-led weaning style scored significantly lower on restrained eating (DEBQ), anxiety and introversion (TIPQ) and anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (BSI). Mothers who currently adopt a baby-led approach are therefore significantly different in personality, eating behaviour and well-being characteristics compared with those adopting a traditional approach. These characteristics may affect likelihood of choosing a baby-led approach or indirectly affect outcomes for infants weaned using the approach. Further research exploring baby-led weaning in a wider population sample is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Brown
- Department of Public Health and Policy Studies, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
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12
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Mothers’ restrictive eating and food neophobia and fathers’ dietary quality are associated with breast-feeding duration and introduction of solid foods: the STEPS study. Public Health Nutr 2014; 18:1991-2000. [DOI: 10.1017/s1368980014002663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to examine the association between parental eating behaviours and dietary patterns and feeding practices of infants and young children.DesignData on infant-feeding practices were collected from each infant’s birth via parentally self-administered follow-up diaries. Three questionnaires, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, the Food Neophobia Scale and the Index of Diet Quality, were administered when the children were aged 4 and 13 months.SettingSouth-western Finland.SubjectsFamilies participating in the STEPS longitudinal cohort study (n1797).ResultsMean duration of exclusive breast-feeding was 2·4 months and total duration of breast-feeding averaged 8·1 months. The first solid food was introduced into children’s diets at the age of 3·9 months, on average. Mothers with highly restrictive eating were more likely to introduce solid foods sooner than mothers who ranked lower in these behaviours (3·8 monthsv.4·0 months,P=0·012). Neophobic mothers breast-fed exclusively (2·0v. 2·6 months,P=0·038) and in total (7·2v. 8·5 months,P=0·039) for shorter times than average mothers, even after adjusting for various demographic characteristics. Fathers’ diet quality was associated with total breast-feeding duration and with introduction of complementary foods in unadjusted analyses and with total breast-feeding duration also after adjusting for confounding factors.ConclusionsMothers’ and fathers’ eating patterns and practices are associated with the feeding practices of infants and young children. Health promotion interventions seeking to improve parents’ eating patterns might lead to more favourable feeding practices for infants and young children.
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