Development, psychometric assessment, and predictive validity of a breastfeeding subjective norms scale among an Australian prospective cohort of first‐time parents
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Published:2023-02-05
Issue:3
Volume:28
Page:690-704
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ISSN:1359-107X
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Container-title:British Journal of Health Psychology
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language:en
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Short-container-title:British J Health Psychol
Author:
Charlesworth Jessica12ORCID,
McAlpine Thomas12,
Martin Annegret2,
Scott Jane2,
Mullan Barbara12ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Faculty of Health Sciences, enAble Institute Curtin University Perth Western Australia Australia
2. School of Population Health Curtin University Perth Western Australia Australia
Abstract
AbstractObjectivesBreastfeeding has a number of benefits for both mothers and their infants. Research has examined the psychosocial influences on breastfeeding, yielding important findings in relation to particular constructs that play a significant role in this vital health behaviour. One such construct is subjective norms. However, there are mixed findings in relation to the role of subjective norms in breastfeeding behaviours. This may be due to the lack of consistent measure of subjective norms across studies. Further, the influence of fathers' subjective norms on breastfeeding continuation remains unclear due to a lack of measurement. Thus, the aim of the current study was to develop and assess a reliable and valid subjective norms scale specific to breastfeeding for use among both mothers and fathers.Design/MethodsSubjective norms items were developed by researchers in the domain and were tested among 949 couples.ResultsFindings indicated that both subjective norms scales had excellent reliability, construct validity, and predictive validity. It was also found that both the mothers' and fathers' subjective norms scales tapped into two key structures: breastfeeding in general, and breastfeeding in public. Further, maternal subjective norms were predictive of breastfeeding behaviours but not paternal subjective norms.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that the developed subjective norms scales are reliable and valid and capture key elements of breastfeeding subjective norms among both mothers and fathers. Use of this measure in future research can help better understand the role of both mothers' and fathers' subjective norms in influencing breastfeeding behaviours.
Funder
Curtin University of Technology
Subject
Applied Psychology,General Medicine
Reference51 articles.
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3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2011).2010 Australian National Infant Feeding Survey: Indicator results(Cat. no. PHE 156 Issue).AIHW.
4. Predictors of Continuation of Exclusive Breastfeeding for the First Six Months of Life
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