Sydney, Jan 18 (Inditop.com) Children breastfed for more than six months have a lower risk of mental health problems as they enter their teen years.
Wendy Oddy, child health associate professor at the Telethon Institute, said: “There has been much evidence about the benefits of early breastfeeding, but the importance of this study is that it shows continued benefits from extended feeding.”
“Given the rising prevalence of mental health problems, interventions to assist mothers to breastfeed, and to breastfeed for longer, could be of long term benefit to the community,” she added.
The research team analysed data from more than 2,000 children. Just over half were breastfed for six months or longer, 38 percent were breastfed for less than six months, 11 percent were not breastfed.
The participants underwent a mental health assessment when they were 2, 5, 8, 10, and 14-years-old. At each of the assessments, the researcher team found a link between breastfeeding duration and behaviour, said a release.
For each additional month of breastfeeding, the behaviour score improved. This remained valid after adjustment for socio-economic, social and other factors impacting on parenting. Oddy said breastfeeding could help babies cope better with stress.
These findings will be published in the forthcoming edition of the Journal of Paediatrics.
