Partner influences, breastfeeding, and body image and eating concerns: An expanded biopsychosocial model

Recent research among postpartum women has considered body image and eating attitudes as well as exclusive breastfeeding within common theoretical models. However, these efforts have so far neglected to include partner-related constructs, which constitutes an important gap. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine an integrated model of body image and eating concerns, and exclusive breastfeeding among mothers of infants six months and younger, that included partner appearance influences as well as general postpartum support.

A sample of new mothers (N = 156), aged 20-47 years, mean = 32.7 (SD = 4.7) years, reported on postpartum partner support and appearance pressures, thin-ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction, symptoms of disordered eating, depression, breastfeeding self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding. Path analyses were conducted to test the hypothetical model.

Findings revealed that the final model was a good fit to these data. Postpartum partner support was associated with lower depression and higher breastfeeding self-efficacy, through which it was related to higher reports of exclusive breastfeeding and lower eating disorder symptoms. In addition, partner appearance pressures and thin-ideal internalization were associated with higher body dissatisfaction, and thin-ideal internalization was also related to lower breastfeeding self-efficacy.

Partner influences may be important to account for in models of body image and eating concerns among postpartum women, and exclusive breastfeeding, and further research on ways in which they can support mothers of young infants is warranted.