Breast-feeding is associated with reduced perceived stress and negative mood in mothers.
Two studies examined the effects of breast-feeding on maternal stress and mood. In Experiment 1, perceived stress in the past month was compared between 28 breast-feeding and 27 bottle-feeding mothers. Breast-feeding mothers reported less perceived stress, after controlling for demographic confounds. In Experiment 2, mood ratings were assessed in the same 24 mothers both before and then after 1 breast-feeding and 1 bottle-feeding session. Breast-feeding was associated with a decrease in negative mood, and bottle-feeding was associated with a decrease in positive mood from pre- to postfeeding. Results indicated that breast-feeding buffers negative mood. These effects appeared to be attributable to the effects of breast-feeding itself and not solely to individual-differences factors.
Mezzacappa
Elizabeth S
ES
Behavioral Medicine Program, Columbia University, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, New York 10032-3784, USA. elizabeth.mezzacappa@sunysb.edu
Katlin
Edward S
ES
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States
D010121:Oxytocin