The impact of breastfeeding on mothers' attentional sensitivity towards infant distress
Abstract
Background Maternal response towards infant distress has an important impact on infant development. In animals it is established that lactation and pup suckling plays an important role in maintaining maternal responses. Previous research suggests that breastfeeding is associated with sensitive maternal responses in human mothers. However, this may be because women who are more sensitive to their infant choose to breastfeed. The current study investigated the attentional sensitivity towards infant distress in women who went on to breast or formula feed during pregnancy as well as after birth. We hypothesised that differences in breast and formula feeding mothers would only emerge after birth once feeding had commenced.Method Women were recruited during pregnancy through community midwives as part of a longitudinal study. 51 women were seen during late pregnancy and between 3 and 6 months after birth (27 were breast and 24 were formula feeding). Sensitivity to infant distress was measured as the extent of women's attentional bias towards infant distress stimuli.Results After birth, we found that our index of attentional bias towards infant distress was 37 ms (0.5 S.D.s) (CI; 6-69, p = 0.021) higher in breastfeeding compared to formula feeding mothers. However, mothers who went on to breastfeed did not show greater attentional bias towards infant distress already during late pregnancy.Conclusions Our results suggest that the act of breastfeeding may influence mothers' attentional sensitivity towards infant distress. Previous research suggests breastfeeding is indicative of sensitive parenting. The current findings may suggest a mechanism by which breastfeeding and/or associated infant interaction could contribute to this sensitivity.
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Attention bias to infants' distress has been observed to be greater in breastfeeding mothers than in formula-feeding mothers of infants three to six months old.
“Attention bias to infants’ distress has also been compared between breastfeeding and formula-feeding mothers of infants three to six months old and observed to be greater in breastfeeding mothers (Pearson et al., 2011).”
From The maternal brain and its plasticity in humans (2016) · cites this paper as Pearson et al., 2011
Attention bias to infant distress was greater in breastfeeding mothers compared to formula feeding mothers of 3-6 month old infants.
“Attention bias to infant distress was also compared between breastfeeding and formula feeding mothers of 3–6 month old infants and observed to be greater in breastfeeding mothers (Pearson et al., 2011).”
From Approaching the biology of human parental attachment: Brain imaging, oxytocin and coordinated assessments of mothers and fathers (2014) · cites this paper as Pearson et al., 2011
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- Authors
- Pearson, R. M., Lightman, S. L., & Evans, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Pearson, R.M.
- Venue
- Infant Behavior and Development
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-02
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 200-205
- ISSN
- 0163-6383 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1970080603
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 6.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Infant Behavior and Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- British Academy
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Keywords
- breastfeeding, bottle feeding, infant distress, maternal sensitivity, parental sensitivity, infant interaction, pregnancy, postpartum period, lactation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attention, Breast Feeding, Computer Simulation, Educational Status, Emotions, Facial Expression, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Maternal Behavior, Parity, Photic Stimulation, Pregnancy, Social Class, Young Adult
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