Publication

Employing an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour to predict breastfeeding intention, initiation, and maintenance in White British and South-Asian mothers living in Bradford.

Closed Access
British journal of health psychology
2012

BACKGROUND:

Despite reported differences in breastfeeding rates amongst women of different ethnic groups, little research has investigated whether the thoughts and feelings (social cognitions) of women from these different groups during pregnancy influence their later breastfeeding behaviour.

OBJECTIVE:

This study investigates the extent to which social cognitions (based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour; TPB) predictdifferences in breastfeeding intentions, initiation, and maintenance between White British (WB) and South Asian (SA) women.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

Two hundred and fifty women (predominantly WB or SA) in the last trimester of pregnancy completed a questionnaire based on the TPB. The women were followed up 6 months later and their breastfeeding during the previous 6 months was recorded.

RESULTS:

The TPB predicted significant variance in breastfeeding across the sample and was able to account for differences between SA and WB women. Affective attitudes (emotional reactions to breastfeeding) and moral norms (reactions about whetherbreastfeeding is right or wrong) were the strongest predictors of intentions. Intentions and affective attitudes were predictive ofbreastfeeding initiation, whilst only affective attitudes were predictive of breastfeeding maintenance.

CONCLUSION:

Stronger intentions to breastfeed led to higher rates of breastfeeding amongst SA women. In turn, intentions were predicted by emotional and moral beliefs about breastfeeding, beliefs that were less positive amongst a WB sample. This suggests that those tasked with encouraging breastfeeding may need to have a different conversation with women about breastfeeding that goes beyond a focus on costs and benefits.

Access type

Closed

Journal name

British journal of health psychology

Volume

Volume 17, Issue 4

Publication date

2012

DOI identification

10.1111/j.2044-8287.2012.02083.x

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

Stay informed and inspired — sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates, research insights, and ways to get involved directly in your inbox!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Born in Bradford letterpressed print