Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy in Mothers: The Body Image and Emotional Intelligence Perspective

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BackgroundBreastfeeding is a dynamic and complex process. Due to its complex nature, many reasons affect one another. Recent studies have focused on breastfeeding rates and factors that affect the early termination of breastfeeding. However, studies evaluating the relationship of body image and emotional intelligence concepts with breastfeeding self-efficacy have remained limited to date, resulting in a significant gap in the literature. AimThe present study was carried out to determine the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy, body image, and emotional intelligence of postpartum mothers. MethodsThe descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 mothers. The data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, the Body Image Scale (BIS), Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (SEIS), and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES). The data were evaluated with the SPSS program, using percentages, mean values, independent t-test,One-Way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation and regression. ResultsThe mothers’ mean age was 29.99±5.46 years. The mean total scores that mothers obtained from the scales were found to be 123.47±23.45 for the BIS, 144.46±13.11 for the SEIS, 51.81±9.46 for the BSES-SF. In the correlation analysis results, there was no correlation between the BSES-SF and SEIS. A statistically significant positive correlation was determined between the BIS and BSES-SF. Considering the regression analysis, it is seen that 7.4% of the change in mothers’ breastfeeding self-efficacy is explained by body image (R^2 = 0.074) ConclusionThe study found that positive body image increases breastfeeding self-efficacy. There is a need for additional longitudinal research examining the body image and emotional intelligence perspective of breastfeeding self-efficacy.