When mothers are stressed about going back to work after maternity leave: associations with breastfeeding, room-sharing and partner support
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2023-04-06
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en
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Abstract
Despite the positive effects on both infant and mother, the number of mothers who breastfeed
(exclusively) and room-share with their infant declines from birth onwards. It is important to
better understand why parents discontinue (exclusive) breastfeeding and room-sharing. This
answer has not been sought yet in the period of maternity leave, when mothers are about to
resume their work. In this longitudinal and pre-registered study, the relationship between
anticipated work resumption stress on (exclusive) breastfeeding and room-sharing duration
was investigated in a Dutch community sample (n = 101). Further, the moderating effect of
partner support was examined. When the infant was 6 weeks of age, mothers received an
online questionnaire to measure their stress in anticipation about returning work. At 12 weeks
of infant age, partner support was measured. At 8 months postpartum, breastfeeding and
room-sharing practices were measured, via online questionnaires. Regression analyses
revealed a significant main effect, whereby anticipated work resumption stress is associated
with shorter breastfeeding durations. No associations were found with room-sharing, nor a
moderating effect of partner support. This research is the first to acknowledge that mothers
might experience stress in anticipation of the return to work after maternity leave, and this
stress might have negative consequences for breastfeeding duration. More research is needed
to replicate this finding and to further investigate the effects of anticipated work resumption
stress on caregiving practices and other maternal and paternal outcomes.
Keywords: anticipated work resumption stress; (exclusive) breastfeeding; room-sharing; partner support
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Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen