Journal of Human Lactation

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/for-professionals

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wagner, C. L.
Right arrow Articles by Hulsey, T. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wagner, C. L.
Right arrow Articles by Hulsey, T. C.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 22, No. 1, 16-26 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0890334405283624

The Role of Personality and Other Factors in a Mother’s Decision to Initiate Breastfeeding

Carol L. Wagner, MD

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, Society for Pediatric Research, International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation

Mark T. Wagner, PhD

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, National Association of Neuropsychologists, Internationa Society of Neuropsychologists, American Psychological Association

Myla Ebeling

Division of Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

Katreia Gleaton Chatman, BSN

College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

Millicent Cohen

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

Thomas C. Hulsey, ScD

Division of Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

The objective of the study was to measure the impact of personality and other factors on the decision to initiate breastfeeding. Mothers were enrolled (24-96 hours postpartum) and were classified as fully breastfeeding, formula-feeding, or combination-feeding. A semi-structured interview about maternal sociodemographics and attitudes and a standardized personality inventory (NEO-PI-R) were conducted. Eighty-seven mothers completed the study: 50 breastfeeders, 6 combination feeders, and 31 formula feeders. Because of small numbers, combination-feeder mothers (n = 6) were excluded from analyses. Maternal age, marriage, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and formula-feeding groups differed on 3 personality domains: extraversion (53.3 breastfeeding vs 46.9 formula-feeding, P = .002), openness (51.6 vs 46.2, P = .008), and agreeableness (48.5 vs 41.5, P = .01). In a multiple variable logistic regression model, extraversion (P = .03) and openness (P = .003) remained significant. Sociodemographics, experiential factors, and specific personality characteristics of mother were independently associated with maternal feeding decision.

Key Words: breastfeeding • maternal attitudes • socioeconomic factors • personality


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Hum LactHome page
R. Osbaldiston and L. A. Mingle
Characterization of Human Milk Donors
J Hum Lact, November 1, 2007; 23(4): 350 - 357.
[Abstract] [PDF]