Feelings and feedings: Psychopathology and breastfeeding attitudes in women with a history of intimate partner violence.

Abstract

Objective: Breastfeeding has myriad benefits for mother-child dyads, but women exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) are less likely to sustain breastfeeding. Prior studies, however, have not analyzed mothers' breastfeeding attitudes in relation to breastfeeding behavior, IPV, and psychopathology. Further, little research has examined distinctive effects of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depression on breastfeeding behaviors and attitudes in IPV-exposed women. This study examines breastfeeding attitudes, psychopathology, and IPV as predictors of breastfeeding continuation, the prospective role of IPV for psychopathology and breastfeeding attitudes, and reciprocal relations among psychopathology and breastfeeding attitudes. Method: The current study includes a longitudinal sample of women (N = 83) recruited from a low-income clinic. Eligibility criteria included: pregnant and over age 18 at baseline. Data were collected during pregnancy and at 6 weeks and 4 months postpartum. Participants reported on psychopathology, IPV exposure, and breastfeeding behaviors and attitudes through prenatal interviews and postpartum surveys. Hypotheses were tested using cross-lagged models. Results: IPV, psychopathology, and breastfeeding attitudes were not related to breastfeeding continuation at 4 months postpartum. PTSS (β = .76, p < .001) and breastfeeding attitudes (β = -.19, p < .05) at 6 weeks postpartum predicted PTSS at 4 months, but not subsequent breastfeeding attitudes. Depression at 6 weeks postpartum predicted depression (β = .63, p < .001) and breastfeeding attitudes (β = -.48, p < .001) at 4 months postpartum. IPV was not significant in any model. Conclusions: Although depression severity was not associated with breastfeeding cessation, it was associated with less positive attitudes about breastfeeding, suggesting lactation supports may benefit from content addressing mothers' mental health needs and emotional experiences nursing newborns. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).