title: Exploring the influence of psychological factors on breastfeeding duration, phase 1: perceptions of mothers and clinicians.
abstract: Breastfeeding duration rates in Australia are low, prompting a search for modifiable factors capable of increasing the duration of breastfeeding. In this study, participants were asked which psychological factors they believed influence breastfeeding duration. Participants included 3 groups of mothers who had breastfed for varied lengths of time (n = 17), and 1 group of breastfeeding clinicians (n = 4). The nominal group technique was employed, involving a structured group meeting progressing through several steps. Analyses included collation of individual and group responses, group comparisons, and a thematic analysis of group discussions. Forty-five psychological factors thought to influence the duration of breastfeeding were identified. Factors considered most important included the mother's priorities and mothering self-efficacy, faith in breast milk, adaptability, stress, and breastfeeding self-efficacy. In addition to informing the design of phase 2 of this study, these results add to our knowledge of this emerging research area.
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland School of Medicine, Rural Clinical Division, Toowoomba, Qld, Australia. obrienm@usq.edu.au
authors.forename: Maxine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buikstra
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: Desley
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hegney
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning; D055815:Young Adult