title: Role of breastfeeding in childhood cognitive development: a propensity score matching analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether the association between breastfeeding and childhood cognitive development is direct or whether the association is spurious owing to confounding variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study conducted a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of PSM models revealed that prior to matching, the association between breastfeeding and cognitive functioning was significant (mean difference = 3.20, t-value = 7.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.40-4.00, P ≤ 0.05). After controlling for a range of confounding factors, the mean difference was reduced by 40% (mean difference = 1.92, t-value = 3.75, 95% CI = 0.92-2.93, P ≤ 0.05); however, significant differences remained between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results produced in the current study provide tentative evidence that breastfeeding may have an influence on the development of cognitive abilities in children. Additional research is necessary, however, in order to further evaluate the causal impact and exact developmental pathway of breastfeeding on childhood cognitive growth.
authors.affiliation: College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2296, United States. brian.boutwell@shsu.edu
authors.forename: Brian B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Boutwell
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Beaver
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D057216:Propensity Score