title: Psychometric assessment of the croatian version of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale-short form.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many mothers find it difficult to breastfeed exclusively for the recommended 6 months postpartum. The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) was developed to measure breastfeeding self-efficacy, an important predictor of breastfeeding outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To translate and psychometrically assess the BSES-SF among women in Croatia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 190 breastfeeding mothers was recruited from a Baby-Friendly hospital in Zagreb, Croatia. In-hospital mothers completed questionnaires that included the translated BSES-SF, Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13), and a demographic questionnaire. The follow-up questionnaires were administered to mothers at 1 and 6 months postpartum to determine their infant feeding method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total score of the Croatian version of the BSES-SF was 55 ± 7. The Cronbach α coefficient for internal consistency was 0.86, suggesting good reliability. In-hospital BSES-SF scores significantly predicted breastfeeding duration and exclusivity at 1 and 6 months postpartum, providing support for predictive validity. The BSES-SF scores were significantly correlated with the total SOC scores (r = 0.32, P < .001) and the SOC subscales of comprehensibility (r = 0.35, P < .001), manageability (r = 0.26, P < .001), and meaningfulness (r = 0.20, P = .005), providing support for construct validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that the translated version of the BSES-SF may be a valid and reliable measure of breastfeeding self-efficacy among postpartum women in Croatia.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Sveti Duh Zagreb, Croatia. apavicic@net.hr
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavicic Bosnjak
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rumboldt
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanojevic
authors.forename: Cindy Lee
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dennis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D017523:Croatia; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating; D055815:Young Adult