Belief factors associated with breastfeeding intentions of single women: Based on the theory of planned behavior / 한국영양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the behavioral intentions of breastfeeding in single women using the theory of planned behavior. METHODS: The questionnaires were distributed to 350 single women in her 20~30s, and 316 respondents were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The subjects showed strong intentions and favorable attitudes toward breastfeeding. The subjects were more favorably influenced by their mothers, siblings, friends, and coworkers who previously experienced breastfeeding than ones with no breastfeeding experiences. There were significant correlations between breastfeeding intention and attitudes (r = 0.321, p < 0.0001), subjective norms (r = 0.434, p < 0.0001), and perceived control (r = 0.307, p < 0.0001). However, regression analysis with two different age groups revealed that subjective norms (p < 0.0001) and perceived control (p < 0.001) contributed to the model of explaining breastfeeding intentions in subjects who were 25 years old or younger, whereas attitudes did not. In addition, subjects who were more than 25 years old showed that attitudes (p < 0.003) and subjective norms (p = 0.002) contributed to the model of explaining breastfeeding intentions while perceived control (p < 0.070) showed less contribution. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the theory of planned behavior can be a useful tool to increase the rate of breastfeeding intentions in single women when designing educational materials, which requires consideration of age differences.