Psychosocial Influences on Breastfeeding Duration: Maternal, Paternal, and Infant Contributors

Abstract

Breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for infants and mothers, yet many families face challenges leading to early cessation. The role of maternal psychosocial factors, paternal psychosocial support, and parental perceptions of infant characteristics on breastfeeding duration remains underexplored. This narrative review aimed to synthesize recent literature on the psychosocial influences of maternal, paternal, and infant-related factors on breastfeeding duration. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed database to extract peer-reviewed studies between 2014 and 2024. The search terms include those relate to parents (e.g., “mother,” “father,” “maternal,” “paternal,”), infants (e.g., “infant,” “baby”), psychosocial factors (e.g., “mental health,” “self-efficacy,” “depression,” “anxiety”), and breastfeeding duration outcomes (e.g., “breastfeeding duration,” “continuation”) to identify relevant studies. A total of 447 articles were identified through the initial search, and 31 articles were included in the final qualitative analysis based on relevance to the inclusion criteria. The literature suggests that maternal mental well-being and lower self-efficacy are the most prominent predictors of breastfeeding duration and cessation. Additionally, fathers’ active participation, such as providing emotional support, can have a positive impact on breastfeeding duration. Variations in infant temperament were found to be associated with maternal breastfeeding and caregiving styles, which in turn influence breastfeeding duration. In summary, maternal, paternal, and infant psychosocial factors all contribute to variations in breastfeeding duration; however, paternal psychological factors and infant temperament are underrepresented in research on breastfeeding. A more holistic perspective is needed to guide future research and interventions aimed at supporting breastfeeding persistence.