Examining psychosocial pathways to explain the link between breastfeeding practices and child behaviour in a longitudinal cohort
Abstract Objective Breastfeeding is associated with reduced postpartum depression, stronger parent-child relationships, and fewer behavioral disorders in early childhood. We tested the mediating roles of postpartum depression and parent-child relationship in the association between breastfeeding pra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17994-0 |
| _version_ | 1797272933498880000 |
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| author | Sarah E. Turner Leslie Roos Nathan Nickel Jacqueline Pei Piushkumar J. Mandhane Theo J. Moraes Stuart E. Turvey Elinor Simons Padmaja Subbarao Meghan B. Azad |
| author_facet | Sarah E. Turner Leslie Roos Nathan Nickel Jacqueline Pei Piushkumar J. Mandhane Theo J. Moraes Stuart E. Turvey Elinor Simons Padmaja Subbarao Meghan B. Azad |
| author_sort | Sarah E. Turner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective Breastfeeding is associated with reduced postpartum depression, stronger parent-child relationships, and fewer behavioral disorders in early childhood. We tested the mediating roles of postpartum depression and parent-child relationship in the association between breastfeeding practices and child behavior. Study design We used standardized questionnaire data from a subset of the CHILD Cohort Study (n = 1,573) to measure postpartum depression at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years, parent-child relationship 1 year and 2 years, and child behavior at 5 years using the Child Behavior Checklist (range 0-100). Breastfeeding practices were measured at 3 months (none, partial, some expressed, all direct at the breast), 6 months (none, partial, exclusive), 12 months, and 24 months (no, yes). Confounders included birth factors, maternal characteristics, and socioeconomic status. Results Breast milk feeding at 3 or 6 months was associated with − 1.13 (95% CI: -2.19-0.07) to -2.14 (95% CI: -3.46, -0.81) lower (better) child behavior scores. Reduced postpartum depression at 6 months mediated between 11.5% and 16.6% of the relationship between exclusive breast milk feeding at 3 months and better child behavior scores. Together, reduced postpartum depression at 1 year and reduced parent-child dysfunction at 2 years mediated between 21.9% and 32.1% of the relationship between breastfeeding at 12 months and better child behavior scores. Conclusion Postpartum depression and parent-child relationship quality partially mediate the relationship between breastfeeding practices and child behavior. Breastfeeding, as well as efforts to support parental mental health and parent-child relationships, may help to improve child behavior. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:36:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9379c88e47744468d20247797d245f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:36:25Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9379c88e47744468d20247797d245f32024-03-05T20:39:06ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-03-0124111310.1186/s12889-024-17994-0Examining psychosocial pathways to explain the link between breastfeeding practices and child behaviour in a longitudinal cohortSarah E. Turner0Leslie Roos1Nathan Nickel2Jacqueline Pei3Piushkumar J. Mandhane4Theo J. Moraes5Stuart E. Turvey6Elinor Simons7Padmaja Subbarao8Meghan B. Azad9Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC)Children’s Hospital Research Institute of ManitobaManitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC)Department of Educational Psychology, University of AlbertaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of AlbertaDepartment of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of TorontoDepartment of Pediatrics, University of British ColumbiaChildren’s Hospital Research Institute of ManitobaDepartment of Pediatrics, Physiology & Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of TorontoManitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC)Abstract Objective Breastfeeding is associated with reduced postpartum depression, stronger parent-child relationships, and fewer behavioral disorders in early childhood. We tested the mediating roles of postpartum depression and parent-child relationship in the association between breastfeeding practices and child behavior. Study design We used standardized questionnaire data from a subset of the CHILD Cohort Study (n = 1,573) to measure postpartum depression at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years, parent-child relationship 1 year and 2 years, and child behavior at 5 years using the Child Behavior Checklist (range 0-100). Breastfeeding practices were measured at 3 months (none, partial, some expressed, all direct at the breast), 6 months (none, partial, exclusive), 12 months, and 24 months (no, yes). Confounders included birth factors, maternal characteristics, and socioeconomic status. Results Breast milk feeding at 3 or 6 months was associated with − 1.13 (95% CI: -2.19-0.07) to -2.14 (95% CI: -3.46, -0.81) lower (better) child behavior scores. Reduced postpartum depression at 6 months mediated between 11.5% and 16.6% of the relationship between exclusive breast milk feeding at 3 months and better child behavior scores. Together, reduced postpartum depression at 1 year and reduced parent-child dysfunction at 2 years mediated between 21.9% and 32.1% of the relationship between breastfeeding at 12 months and better child behavior scores. Conclusion Postpartum depression and parent-child relationship quality partially mediate the relationship between breastfeeding practices and child behavior. Breastfeeding, as well as efforts to support parental mental health and parent-child relationships, may help to improve child behavior.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17994-0Breast milk feedingBreastfeeding practicesParent-child relationshipPostpartum depressionChild behaviour |
| spellingShingle | Sarah E. Turner Leslie Roos Nathan Nickel Jacqueline Pei Piushkumar J. Mandhane Theo J. Moraes Stuart E. Turvey Elinor Simons Padmaja Subbarao Meghan B. Azad Examining psychosocial pathways to explain the link between breastfeeding practices and child behaviour in a longitudinal cohort BMC Public Health Breast milk feeding Breastfeeding practices Parent-child relationship Postpartum depression Child behaviour |
| title | Examining psychosocial pathways to explain the link between breastfeeding practices and child behaviour in a longitudinal cohort |
| title_full | Examining psychosocial pathways to explain the link between breastfeeding practices and child behaviour in a longitudinal cohort |
| title_fullStr | Examining psychosocial pathways to explain the link between breastfeeding practices and child behaviour in a longitudinal cohort |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining psychosocial pathways to explain the link between breastfeeding practices and child behaviour in a longitudinal cohort |
| title_short | Examining psychosocial pathways to explain the link between breastfeeding practices and child behaviour in a longitudinal cohort |
| title_sort | examining psychosocial pathways to explain the link between breastfeeding practices and child behaviour in a longitudinal cohort |
| topic | Breast milk feeding Breastfeeding practices Parent-child relationship Postpartum depression Child behaviour |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17994-0 |
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