Identifying job characteristics related to employed women's breastfeeding behaviors

Christiane Spitzmueller; Jing Zhang; Candice L Thomas; Zhuxi Wang; Gwenith G Fisher; Russell A Matthews; Lane Strathearn

doi:10.1037/ocp0000119

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Identifying job characteristics related to employed women's breastfeeding behaviors

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Identifying job characteristics related to employed women's breastfeeding behaviors

Christiane Spitzmueller, Jing Zhang, Candice L Thomas, Zhuxi Wang, Gwenith G Fisher, Russell A Matthews and Lane Strathearn

Journal of occupational health psychology, Vol.23(4), pp.457-470

10/2018

DOI: 10.1037/ocp0000119

PMID: 29756788

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Abstract

For employed mothers of infants, reconciliation of work demands and breastfeeding constitutes a significant challenge. The discontinuation of breastfeeding has the potential to result in negative outcomes for the mother (e.g., higher likelihood of obesity), her employer (e.g., increased absenteeism), and her infant (e.g., increased risk of infection). Given previous research findings identifying return to work as a major risk factor for breastfeeding cessation, we investigate what types of job characteristics relate to women's intentions to breastfeed shortly after giving birth and women's actual breastfeeding initiation and duration. Using job titles and job descriptors contained in a large Australian longitudinal cohort data set (N = 809), we coded job titles using the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)'s Occupational Information Network (O*NET) database and extracted job characteristics. Hazardous working conditions and job autonomy were identified as significant determinants of women's breastfeeding intentions, their initiation of breastfeeding, and ultimately their breastfeeding continuation. Hence, we recommend that human resource professionals, managers, and public health initiatives provide breastfeeding-supportive resources to women who, based on their job characteristics, are at high risk to prematurely discontinue breastfeeding to ensure these mothers have equal opportunity to reap the benefits of breastfeeding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Breast Feeding

Australia

Young Adult

Humans

Adolescent

Adult

Female

Women, Working

Longitudinal Studies

Mothers

Details

Title: Subtitle: Identifying job characteristics related to employed women's breastfeeding behaviors
Creators: Christiane Spitzmueller - Department of Psychology, University of Houston
Jing Zhang - Department of Management, California State University San Bernardino
Candice L Thomas - Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University
Zhuxi Wang - Department of Psychology, University of Houston
Gwenith G Fisher - Department of Psychology, Colorado State University
Russell A Matthews - Department of Management, University of Alabama
Lane Strathearn - Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of occupational health psychology, Vol.23(4), pp.457-470
DOI: 10.1037/ocp0000119
PMID: 29756788
NLM abbreviation: J Occup Health Psychol
ISSN: 1076-8998
eISSN: 1939-1307
Publisher: United States
Grant note: Mountains and Plains Education and Research Center National Science Foundation
Language: English
Date published: 10/2018
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
Record Identifier: 9984040550102771

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