A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Breastfeeding and offspring's compassion and empathy in adulthood: A study with an over 30-year follow-up
Authors: Aino I. L. Saarinen, Liisa Keltikangas‐Järvinen, Yukiko Honda, Elli Oksman, Olli Raitakari, Laura Pulkki‐Råback, Mirka Hintsanen
Publisher: WILEY
Publication year: 2019
Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
Journal name in source: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY
Journal acronym: SCAND J PSYCHOL
Volume: 61
Issue: 2
First page : 227
Last page: 236
Number of pages: 10
ISSN: 0036-5564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12600
Abstract
This study investigated whether breastfeeding predicts offspring's dispositional compassion and empathy from early adulthood to middle age. The parents of the participants (N = 1,394) of the Young Finns study answered questions about breastfeeding in 1983, and the participants' compassion and empathy were evaluated in 1997-2012 (participants were aged 20-50 years). Breastfeeding did not predict the course of compassion or empathy in adulthood at the age of 20-50 years. The associations remained non-significant, when adjusted for age, gender, socioeconomic factors, and a wide range of characteristics of the family environment (including mother's gestational age; premature birth; birth weight; number of other children at home; parental mental disorder; parental relationship status; parental postnatal smoking; parental postnatal alcohol use; parenting behavior; and child's externalizing behavior). In conclusion, breastfeeding seems not to predict offspring's compassion or empathy in adulthood. The findings may present a hopeful perspective for children growing up with non-breastfeeding caregivers.
This study investigated whether breastfeeding predicts offspring's dispositional compassion and empathy from early adulthood to middle age. The parents of the participants (N = 1,394) of the Young Finns study answered questions about breastfeeding in 1983, and the participants' compassion and empathy were evaluated in 1997-2012 (participants were aged 20-50 years). Breastfeeding did not predict the course of compassion or empathy in adulthood at the age of 20-50 years. The associations remained non-significant, when adjusted for age, gender, socioeconomic factors, and a wide range of characteristics of the family environment (including mother's gestational age; premature birth; birth weight; number of other children at home; parental mental disorder; parental relationship status; parental postnatal smoking; parental postnatal alcohol use; parenting behavior; and child's externalizing behavior). In conclusion, breastfeeding seems not to predict offspring's compassion or empathy in adulthood. The findings may present a hopeful perspective for children growing up with non-breastfeeding caregivers.
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