title: The influence of psychological factors on breastfeeding duration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper reports on a study examining the relationship between women's psychological characteristics and breastfeeding duration, after controlling for socio-demographic factors.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The literature suggests that psychological factors may influence breastfeeding behaviour, but studies are few. Existing evidence and the results of phase 1 of our study were used to construct a list of psychological factors, which were tested for their association with breastfeeding duration in the current design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were postnatal inpatients in one of two regional hospitals between October and December 2005 and they completed the initial questionnaire within 14 days of giving birth (n = 375). Infant feeding method at 6 months and the timing of introduction of other food(s), where relevant, were ascertained by telephone interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four per cent of the sample showed signs of postnatal distress in the 14 days following the birth. Breastfeeding duration was statistically significantly associated with psychological factors including dispositional optimism, breastfeeding self-efficacy, faith in breastmilk, breastfeeding expectations, anxiety, planned duration of breastfeeding and the time of the infant feeding decision. As a set, these psychological factors were more predictive of breastfeeding duration than was the set of socio-demographic characteristics. The duration of any breastfeeding was uniquely predicted by faith in breastmilk, planned breastfeeding duration and breastfeeding self-efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This increased knowledge of the factors influencing breastfeeding will assist in identifying women at risk of early weaning and in constructing programmes capable of increasing the length of time for which women breastfeed.
authors: Centre for Rural and Remote Area Health, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. obrienm@usq.edu.au
authors: Maxine
authors: M
authors: O'Brien
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Buikstra
authors: Desley
authors: D
authors: Hegney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning