Psychometric properties of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form in an ethnically diverse U.K. sample.
OBJECTIVE
To psychometrically assess the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) among a multicultural U.K. sample and to examine the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal demographic variables.


METHODS
A cohort study where breastfeeding women completed questionnaires in-hospital and at 4 weeks postpartum.


METHODS
165 breastfeeding women at the maternity ward in Birmingham Women's Hospital inpatient department.


METHODS
BSES-SF.


RESULTS
The Cronbach's alpha co-efficient was .90 and evidence for predictive validity was demonstrated through exclusively breastfeeding mothers at 4 weeks postpartum having significantly higher in-hospital BSES-SF scores (M=49.4, SD=12.9) than mothers who were partially breastfeeding (M=44.7, SD=9.5) or bottle-feeding, M=42.4, SD=11.7; F(2)=1.62, p<.001. Caucasian mothers had significantly lower mean scores (M=44.4, SD=12.1) than those of other ethnicity, M=48.4, SD=12.9, t(163)=-2.06, p=.04.


CONCLUSIONS
This study builds upon previous research and provides additional evidence suggesting that the BSES-SF has sound psychometric properties and can be utilized among diverse samples, including Southeast Asian mothers.
Gregory
Anna
A
University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. anna.gregory@doctors.org.uk
Penrose
Kate
K
Morrison
Claire
C
Dennis
Cindy-Lee
CL
MacArthur
Christine
C
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom