Association between infant breastfeeding and temperamental characteristics development in children aged 4-5 years

Mingji YI; Meihong SUN; Fang LIU; Yi LIU

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Temperament plays an important role in psychological development of children. Generally speaking, temperament is genetically determined, but it is also influenced by some other factors. The influential factors studies of temperament are important to promote psychological development and reduce behavior problems of children.

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the correlation between breastfeeding and temperamental characteristics in children aged 4-5 years old.

DESIGN:

Random cluster sampling.

SETTING:

Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Zibo Central Hospital, and Research Institute of Pediatrics, Medical College of Qingdao University.

PARTICIPANTS:

737 children (399 males, 338 females) aged 4-5 years old from 8 kindergartens of 4 districts in Zibo were selected from March to June 2005. All the subjects and their parents were informed about the experimental goal.

METHODS:

With stratified random cluster sampling, 737 children were investigated by NYLS 3-7 years old children temperament questionnaire and self-made inventory questionnaire. The association of 9 dimensions including adaptability, rhythmicity (regularity), activity level, persistence, quality of mood, approach and withdrawal, intension of reaction, distractibility and threshold of responsiveness with feeding type in the first 4 months after birth and duration of breastfeeding was analyzed; the multiple gradual regressive analysis was carried out with each dimension of temperament as the dependent variable and feeding type in the first 4 months after birth and duration of breastfeeding etc. as the independent variables.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Temperamental dimension, feeding categories in the fist 4 months, and breastfeeding duration.

RESULTS:

All 737 children were involved in the result analysis. Correlation analysis indicated that temperamental adaptability was positively related with formula milk mainly in the first 4 months after birth (r =0.084, P =0.030);Rhythmicity and distractibility were negatively related with formula milk only (r =-0.087, -0.075, P =0.022, 0.047);Activity level were positively related with breast milk only and negatively with both breast milk and formula milk equally (r =0.084, -0.077, P =0.030, 0.045); Approach and withdrawal was negatively related with breast milk mainly (r =-0.097, P =0.012). Rhythmicity, quality of mood and activity level were negatively related with breastfeeding for 4-6 months (r =-0.082, -0.102, -0.153, P =0.036, 0.009, 0.001); Quality of mood and activity level were positively related with the duration of breastfeeding more than 9 months (r =0.089, 0.088, P =0.024,0.025). After rectifying the family structure, and educational level of parents, the influencing factor of adaptability was formula mainly; intensity of reaction was breastfeeding duration for 4-6 months and breast milk mainly;rhythmicity was breastfeeding duration for 7-9 months and formula only; activity level was both breast milk and formula milk equally and breastfeeding duration for 7-9 months; quality of mood was formula only and duration of breastfeeding for 7-9 months; approach-withdrawal was breast milk mainly and both breast milk and formula milk equally; distractibility was formula milk mainly.

CONCLUSION:

Temperamental development of children aged 4-5 years old is related to feeding type in the first 4 months after birth and duration of breastfeeding; therefore, it is essential to pay attention to breastfeeding during temperamental cultivation and intervention.