Examining the relationship between breastfeeding duration at age two and beyond with parenting styles and infant feeding attitudes in Turkey (2023–2024)

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Türe Ş., Gönenç İ. M., Velipaşaoğlu S.

REVISTA DA ASSOCIACAO MEDICA BRASILEIRA, cilt.72, sa.3, ss.1-6, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Özet

OBJECTIVE: Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and continued breastfeeding for 24 months remain low due to various challenges. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of mothers’ infant feeding attitudes and parenting styles, as modifiable factors, on breastfeeding duration. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between April 1, 2023, and April 1, 2024. The sample comprised 224 mothers of children aged 2–3 years who attended the child health follow-up clinic. Data were obtained through face-to-face interviews using the Introductory Information Form, Child Nutrition Questionnaire, Iowa Infant Feeding Attitudes Scale, and Parenting Styles Scale. Group differences were examined with t-tests and analysis of variance, correlations with Pearson’s coefficient, and categorical data with chi-square tests. A binary logistic regression evaluated the effects of parenting style and feeding attitudes on breastfeeding beyond 2 years. RESULTS: While 98.7% of participants breastfed at least once, only 38.8% exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, and 40.6% continued breastfeeding for 24 months or longer. It was found that a one-unit increase in the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitudes Scale score increased the probability of breastfeeding beyond 24 months by 5.4%, while each unit increase in the authoritarian attitude decreased it by 9.7%. Formula feeding duration was also positively correlated with authoritarian and overprotective parenting styles. CONCLUSION: Parenting styles and mothers’ infant feeding attitudes are two important factors affecting the rates of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continuing breastfeeding beyond 24 months. KEYWORDS: Breastfeeding. Exclusive. Parenting. Infant nutrition. Time factors.