Perceptions of Breastfeeding Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Purpose: We aimed to understand adolescents' and young adults' perceptions and the extent of their knowledge about breastfeeding. Methods: Participants (adolescents and young adults in the United States, 14-24 years of age) were texted five open-ended questions about their perceptions of various aspects of breastfeeding including their initial reaction to breastfeeding, the impact on the infant and parent, how it compares with formula, and whether they were breastfed. The responses were analyzed for themes using an inductive content analysis approach. Responses were compared using χ² tests to assess if knowledge and education about breastfeeding differed according to gender identity and age. Results: Among 1,283 participants, 829 responded (response rate = 64.4%). The average age was 18.8 (standard deviation [SD] = 2.9), with 53% female and 10% Black. Most adolescents and young adults understand there are health benefits of breastfeeding for the breastfeeding dyad (n = 589; 78.8%), yet also indicate an awareness of negative aspects (n = 256; 36.1%). Participants who identified as female or gender-variant and those who were older were more likely to refer to the emotional and bonding connections breastfeeding creates (p = 0.0011 and p = 0.0002). Males were more likely to have less knowledge about breastfeeding effects on the breastfeeding person but have more negative attitudes toward formula (p = 0.0298 and p = 0.0543). Younger respondents tended to indicate that formula was better than breast milk (p = 0.0534). Conclusion: We found a mix of positive and negative perceptions of breastfeeding among adolescents and young adults. Understanding how youth view breastfeeding can inform targeted education for this population that includes all genders and can begin before pregnancy.