Breastfeeding motivation in mothers of excessive crying infants: A correlation study

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the correlation between mothers' thoughts about infant crying and breastfeeding motivation. The research had a cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational survey model. The population of the research consisted of mothers of infants who were aged between 3 weeks and 6 months and brought to the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic of a hospital in Turkey due to excessive crying complaints. The sample consisted of 210 mothers who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected using the Infant Crying Questionnaire (ICQ), and the Breastfeeding Motivation Scale (BMS). In our study, there was a positive weak correlation between the Attachment, Minimization, Directive Control, and Spoiling subscales of the ICQ and Intrinsic Motivation and Integrative Regulation, Identified regulation, Introjected regulation, External regulation-infant health subscales of the BMS (r = 0.26-0.49). Those who had positive thoughts about infant crying had significantly higher breastfeeding motivation..