Impact of perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms and infant temperament on exclusive breastfeeding: a cohort study in Malaysia
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms and infant temperament at 6 months postpartum on exclusive breastfeeding, and whether maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms at 6 months postpartum are moderators on the association between...
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Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2023
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/108821/7/108821_Impact%20of%20perinatal%20depressive%20and%20anxiety%20symptoms%20and%20infant.crdownload http://irep.iium.edu.my/108821/ http://www.jbehavioralhealth.com/ |
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Summary: | Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of perinatal depressive
and anxiety symptoms and infant temperament at 6 months postpartum on exclusive
breastfeeding, and whether maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms at 6 months
postpartum are moderators on the association between infant temperament and exclusive
breastfeeding.
Methods: We used data from a perinatal mental health cohort study conducted in health
clinics in two states of Malaysia. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and anxiety
subscale of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) were completed by 524 parents
at late pregnancy and 6 months postpartum, while the Infant Characteristic Questionnaire
and information on exclusive breastfeeding were completed by 524 mothers at 6 months
postpartum.
Results: Mothers’ postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) at 6 months were associated
with shorter duration of exclusive breastfeeding, but not the postpartum anxiety symptoms
(PAS). Mothers with persistent depressive and anxiety symptoms ceased exclusive
breastfeeding earliest. Mothers’ perceptions of infant temperament and its subscales were
negatively associated with exclusive breastfeeding duration only in depressed mothers, but
not in non-depressed, anxious, and non-anxious mothers. Therefore, mothers’ PDS, not
PAS, moderated the association between mothers’ perceptions of infant temperament and
the duration of exclusive breastfeeding.
Conclusion: The results signify the need to address maternal mental health in early
postpartum and healthcare professionals should consider the role of maternal depression
when working with mothers who report their infants as temperamentally challenging. |
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