FAMILY ADAPTATION, BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES, DURATION AND QUALITY OF BREASTFEEDING AMONG WORKING WOMEN (WOMEN).
Contributors: University of Idaho.
Published: 1990
Number of pages: 104
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Social.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.
Description: This study used the adaptation phase of the Double ABCX Family Typology Model (McCubbin & McCubbin, 1987) to examine how families managed breastfeeding during the normative transition of having a new baby, in families where the mothers worked. It studied the effect of family stress and strain and family resources upon the duration and quality of the breastfeeding experience; as well as the effect of breastfeeding practices. The Breastfeeding Experience Instrument, was used to measure satisfaction with the quality of the experience of breastfeeding (Alpha =.94).

The 87 volunteers had healthy full-term infants who breastfed from two to 64 months. The women worked eight to 70 hours per week in a variety of occupations. Data analysis found no associations between family stress and strain or family resources and duration of breastfeeding except that higher socioeconomic status, higher occupational level, and higher educational level were associated with less satisfaction with the quality of breastfeeding. The duration of breastfeeding was associated with the quality of the breastfeeding experience, longer maternity leave, less hours worked per week, higher family developmental stage, and more previous experience breastfeeding. Women who did or did not pump breastmilk while separated from their infants had no difference in the duration of breastfeeding. Many women reported initially pumping breastmilk and discontinuing the practice since it was inconvenient or time consuming. Where formula supplementation was used before six weeks of age, there was a significantly shorter duration of breastfeeding.

This study provides evidence that families with high levels of family stress and strain or with low levels of family resources can continue breastfeeding after returning to work. This study has implications for the amount of work and the length of the maternity leave which women plan for themselves if they desire to continue breastfeeding.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-11, Section: B, page: 5243.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO, 1990.

School code: 0089.