Abstract
Objective
We aimed to determine whether the association between time off work and a near-exclusive
breastfeeding trajectory is moderated by perceived employer support for breastfeeding.
Methods
We conducted a secondary analysis of working mothers (n = 1,468) from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a longitudinal observational
(2005–2007) study of U.S. infant feeding behaviors. Previous studies have found four
latent infant feeding subgroups in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II sample, each
following a distinct breastfeeding intensity trajectory. Multivariate least-squares
regression was conducted to estimate whether time off work after delivery predicted
increased membership in the subgroup characterized by near-exclusive breastfeeding,
and whether this association was moderated by perceived employer support for workplace
breastfeeding.
Results
Both time off work and perception of more breastfeeding support were independently,
positively related to probability of membership in the near-exclusive breastfeeding
trajectory (β = 0.16, p = .019, and β = 0.14, p = .004, respectively). The interaction of these two factors suggests an attenuation
effect. The addition of paid leave to the model did not change the estimates.
Conclusion
The positive relationship between time off and trajectory membership was significant
only for mothers who perceived their workplaces to be unsupportive of breastfeeding.
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Biography
Mackenzie D.M. Whipps, BSc, CLC, is a doctoral candidate in Psychology and Social Intervention at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She has spent more than 10 years as a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and lactation counselor.
Biography
Julia Honoroff, BA, is a Junior Research Scientist at New York University. Her research interests overlap psychology and social policy, specifically related to prevention and intervention research that improves access to services and care for low-income and underserved children and families.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 15, 2019
Accepted:
August 22,
2019
Received in revised form:
August 19,
2019
Received:
January 8,
2019
Footnotes
Funding Statement: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc.
