Psychological health, maternal attachment and attachment style in breast‐ and formula‐feeding mothers: a preliminary study

Abstract

This study examined psychological health, maternal attachment, and attachment style in an Australian sample of breast‐ and formula‐feeding mothers. Thirty‐six breast‐feeding and 24 formula‐feeding women with a child between 4 and 6 months of age were recruited through community health centres and snowball sampling. Participation involved a 30‐minute interview and completion of relevant questionnaires. Contrary to expectations, no differences were found between breast‐ and formula‐feeding mothers in terms of their psychological health and maternal attachment. Results suggest that secure attachment styles are related to greater psychological health and that they predict the likelihood of a mother changing feeding method. The results of this study challenge widely held assumptions concerning the importance of breast‐feeding for maternal well‐being and attachment with infants, and support the literature suggesting attachment styles play an important role in affect regulation and the adjustment to new motherhood.