Breastfeeding and child development outcomes: an investigation of the nurturing hypothesis. Issue 4 (21st July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Jin; Vaughn, Michael G.; Kremer, Kristen P.
• Is Part Of: Maternal and child nutrition. Volume 12:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 757
• Page End: 767
• Publication Date: 2015-07-21
• Subjects: academic ability -- breastfeeding -- behaviour problems -- child development; Children -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Infants -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Nutritional aspects -- Periodicals; Breastfeeding -- Periodicals; 363.8083
• DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12200
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-8695

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigated whether the nurturing hypothesis – that breastfeeding serves as a proxy for family socio‐economic characteristics and parenting behaviours – accounts for the association of breastfeeding with children's academic abilities. Data used were from the Child Development Supplement of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, which followed up a cohort of 3563 children aged 0–12 in 1997. Structural equation modelling simultaneously regressed outcome variables, including three test scores of academic ability and two subscales of behaviour problems, on the presence and duration of breastfeeding, family socio‐economic characteristics, parenting behaviours and covariates. Breastfeeding was strongly related to all three tests scores but had no relationships with behaviour problems. The adjusted mean differences in the Letter–Word Identification, Passage Comprehension) and Applied Problems test scores between breastfed and non‐breastfed children were 5.14 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.14, 7.14], 3.46 (95% CI: 1.67, 5.26) and 4.24 (95% CI: 2.43, 6.04), respectively. Both socio‐economic characteristics and parenting behaviours were related to higher academic test scores and were associated with a lower prevalence of externalising and internalising behaviour problems. The associations of breastfeeding with behaviour problems are divergent from those of socio‐economic characteristics and parenting behaviours. The divergence suggests that breastfeeding may not be a proxy of socio‐economic characteristics and parenting behaviours, as proposed by the nurturing hypothesis. The mechanism of breastfeeding benefits is likely to be different from those by which family socio‐economic background and parenting practices exert their effects. Greater clarity in understanding the mechanisms behind breastfeeding benefits will facilitate the development of policies and programs that maximise breastfeeding's impact.