Breastfeeding and Infant Attachment Behavior

• In Event: 220 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 21. Parenting

Abstract

A child’s attachment security in early childhood influences later social competence and school readiness, yet it is unclear whether or not breastfeeding influences attachment security independent of maternal characteristics of warmth and sensitivity. To further understanding of the relationship between breastfeeding and child attachment, we model these relationships using longitudinal data on early childhood development.

Authors

• Benjamin G. Gibbs, Brigham Young University

• Renata T. Forste, Brigham Young University