Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107265

Deborah Robbins, LCSW¹, Dianne S. Elfenbein, MD², Paulette Kimball-Wren, MD¹, and Marianne Felice, MD¹. (1) Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, 508-856-2455, robbinsd@ummhc.org, (2) Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655

Although many factors have been identified as influencing breast-feeding behavior, including self-esteem, self-efficacy, and social support, the impact of positive self-image, particularly among teen mothers has not been explored. Fifty-four adolescents mothers were interviewed to assess the relationship between infant feeding choices and self-image. Participants were divided into three categories: breast-fed > 1 month, bottle-fed, and breast-fed < 1 month. Self-reported data were collected on factors associated with feeding choice, including age, feeding preference and duration. Subjects completed the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire to calculate a self-image T-score based on national averages. The T-scores for all three groups fell within the normal range, indicating that self-image did not appear to influence infant feeding choices and that parenting adolescents did not experience higher or lower self-image in general when compared to their non-parenting peers. Self-image T-scores did not differ by age, race, or ethnicity. Additionally age and with whom the adolescent resides did not influence feeding choices. Hispanic adolescents chose to breast feed for at least one week at a higher rate (93%) than African American (67%), and Caucasian (20%) adolescent mothers. Overall, 66% of the adolescents involved in this study engaged in breast-feeding behavior for at least one week, indicating a strong interest among adolescents in breast-feeding. Although a significant difference in overall measures of self-image was not found across feeding preference groups, further research is indicated to examine the strong interest adolescent mothers have in breast-feeding and to develop strategies to prolong the length of time adolescents breast-feed their infants.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Understand the relationship between self-image and breast-feeding behaviors in adolescents.
• 2.Recognize the significance of the number of adolescents in this study who initiated breast-feeding behavior.
• 3.Define self-image and self-efficacy.

Keywords: Breast Feeding, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.