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Cited by 2Breastfeeding Practices and InfluencesBirth, Development, and HealthInfant Health and Development

Breastfeeding and offspring’s compassion and empathy in adulthood: A study with an over 30-year follow-up

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Saarinen, Aino I. L., Keltikangas‐Järvinen, Liisa, Honda, Yukiko, Oksman, Elli, Raitakari, Olli, Pulkki‐Råback, Laura, Hintsanen, Mirka·2020·Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
DOI 10.1111/sjop.12600
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Abstract

This study investigated whether breastfeeding predicts offspring’s dispositional compassion and empathy from early adulthood to middle age. The parents of the participants (N = 1,394) of the Young Finns study answered questions about breastfeeding in 1983, and the participants’ compassion and empathy were evaluated in 1997‒2012 (participants were aged 20‒50 years). Breastfeeding did not predict the course of compassion or empathy in adulthood at the age of 20‒50 years. The associations remained non‐significant, when adjusted for age, gender, socioeconomic factors, and a wide range of characteristics of the family environment (including mother’s gestational age; premature birth; birth weight; number of other children at home; parental mental disorder; parental relationship status; parental postnatal smoking; parental postnatal alcohol use; parenting behavior; and child’s externalizing behavior). In conclusion, breastfeeding seems not to predict offspring’s compassion or empathy in adulthood. The findings may present a hopeful perspective for children growing up with non‐breastfeeding caregivers.

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  • For children, breastfeeding may be associated with increased empathy.

    “For children, breastfeeding may be associated with increased empathy.”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Saarinen et al. (2020)

    The Introduction (page not provided) says previous studies found no evidence of a link between breastfeeding and compassion-related outcomes in childhood. The Discussion (page not provided) also reports no association between breastfeeding and empathy from ages 20 to 50, rather than the increased empathy suggested by the claim. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • In Saarinen et al. (2020), most participants (913) were breastfed for less than 5 months and only 36 were breastfed more than 12 months.

    “However, most participants (913) were breastfed for less than 5 months and only 36 were breastfed more than 12 months.”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Saarinen et al. (2020)

  • Saarinen et al. (2020) found that breastfeeding did not predict either sociomoral outcomes even when controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic factors and family environment.

    “Utilizing a large sample (N = 1,394), breastfeeding did not predict either sociomoral outcomes even when controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic factors and family environment.”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Saarinen et al. (2020)

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Authors
Saarinen, A. I. L., Keltikangas‐Järvinen, L., Honda, Y., Oksman, E., Raitakari, O., Pulkki‐Råback, L., & Hintsanen, M.
Affiliations
  • University of Helsinki (FI)
  • Kyoto University (JP)
  • University of Turku (FI)
  • Department of Psychology and Logopedics Faculty of Medicine University of Helsinki Finland
  • University of Oulu (FI)
Corresponding author
Hintsanen, Mirka
ORCID
Venue
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2019-12-10
Volume
61
Issue
2
Pages
227-236
ISSN
  • 0036-5564 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-9450
DOI
10.1111/sjop.12600
OpenAlex
W2995883963
Cited by
2
References
4
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2023: 1
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scandinavian Journal of Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
Academy of Finland (117797 (Gendi), 121584, 124282, 126925, 129378 (Salve), 134309 (Eye), 258578, 286284, 308676, 41071 (Skidi))
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
Keywords
breastfeeding, compassion, empathy, offspring, adulthood, long-term follow-up, parental behavior, family environment, Young Finns Study
MeSH terms
Adult, Breast Feeding, Empathy, Female, Finland, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Personality, Pregnancy, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Young Adult

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