Breast-feeding is associated with reduced perceived stress and negative mood in mothers
Abstract
Two studies examined the effects of breast-feeding on maternal stress and mood. In Experiment 1, perceived stress in the past month was compared between 28 breast-feeding and 27 bottle-feeding mothers. Breast-feeding mothers reported less perceived stress, after controlling for demographic confounds. In Experiment 2, mood ratings were assessed in the same 24 mothers both before and then after 1 breast-feeding and 1 bottle-feeding session. Breast-feeding was associated with a decrease in negative mood, and bottle-feeding was associated with a decrease in positive mood from pre- to postfeeding. Results indicated that breast-feeding buffers negative mood. These effects appeared to be attributable to the effects of breast-feeding itself and not solely to individual-differences factors.
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Self-report studies confirm oxytocin's role in reducing stress: breast-feeders reported less perceived stress than bottle-feeders, than mothers who never breastfed before, and than those who breastfed in the past but who had stopped breastfeeding.
“Self-report studies confirm oxytocin’s role in reducing stress: breast-feeders reported less perceived stress than bottle-feeders, than mothers who never breastfed before, and than those who breastfed in the past but who had stopped breastfeeding (Mezzacappa and Katkin, 2002).”
From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Mezzacappa and Katkin, 2002
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“Self-report studies confirm oxytocin’s role in reducing stress: breast-feeders reported less perceived stress than bottle-feeders, than mothers who never breastfed before, and than those who breastfed in the past but who had stopped breastfeeding (Mezzacappa and Katkin, 2002).”
Background
- Authors
- Mezzacappa, E. S., & Katkin, E. S.
- Affiliations
- Columbia University (US)
- Stony Brook University (US)
- Venue
- Health Psychology
- Published
- 2002-03
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 187-193
- ISSN
- 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-7810
- OpenAlex
- W2011506307
- Cited by
- 232
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 4.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Center for Research Resources (M01RR000645, M01 RR00645)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
- Keywords
- breastfeeding, bottle feeding, maternal stress, perceived stress, negative mood, positive mood, maternal mental health, infant feeding
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Analysis of Variance, Anger, Anxiety, Breast Feeding, Depression, Exploratory Behavior, Female, Humans, Oxytocin, Stress, Psychological, United States, Case-Control Studies
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