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Table 3 Adjusted mediation of postpartum depression and parent-child dysfunction in the relationship between breastfeeding and child behaviour at 5 Years in the CHILD cohort study

From: Examining psychosocial pathways to explain the link between breastfeeding practices and child behaviour in a longitudinal cohort

Breastfeeding Measure

Mediator(s)

Mediation

Effects

Internalizing Behaviour

β (95% CI)

Total Behaviour ¥

β (95% CI)

 

Single Mediation

   

Breast milk only (some expressed)

3 Months

(model n = 1,573)

Depression 6 Months

Total

-1.03 (-2.71, 0.59)

-1.09 (-2.77, 0.52)

Direct

-0.90 (-2.52, 0.73)

-0.97 (-2.62, 0.64)

Indirect

-0.13 (-0.35, -0.01)*

-0.13 (-0.35, -0.01)*

% Mediated

12.2%

11.5%

Breast milk only (all direct)

3 Months

(model n = 1,573)

Depression 6 Months

Total

-1.30 (-3.08, 0.22)^

-1.08 (-2.75, 0.60)

Direct

-1.12 (-2.86, 0.38)

-0.90 (-2.54, 0.85)

Indirect

-0.17 (-0.37, -0.02)*

-0.18 (-0.44, -0.02)*

% Mediated

14.2%

16.6%

Breastfeeding at 12 Months (Yes)

(model n = 1,632)

Depression 1 Year

Total

-2.94 (-6.96, 0.73)

-0.60 (-1.43, 0.27)

Direct

-0.60 (-1.46, 0.24)

-0.45 (-1.33, 0.38)

Indirect

-2.34 (-5.54, 0.50)^

-0.16 (-0.28, 0.02)^

% Mediated

79.7%

25.7%

Breastfeeding at 12 Months (Yes)

(model n = 1,542)

Parent -Child Dysfunction

2 Years

Total

-1.05 (-1.93, -0.23)*

-0.82 (-1.70, 0.04)^

Direct

-0.90 (-1.74, -0.03)*

-0.63 (-1.46, 0.21)

Indirect

-0.16, (-0.34, 0.02)^

-0.19 (-0.40, 0.02)^

% Mediated

14.9%

23.1%

Breastfeeding at 24 Months (Yes)

(model n = 1,542)

Parent -Child Dysfunction

2 Years

Total

-0.74 (-2.15, 0.67)

-

Direct

-0.51 (-1.92, 0.86)

-

Indirect

-0.23, (-0.47, -0.01)*

-

% Mediated

31.3%

-

 

Multiple Mediation

   

Breastfeeding at 12 Months (Yes)

(model n = 1,436)

Depression 1 Year

&

Parent -Child Dysfunction

2 Years

Total

-1.05 (-1.95, -0.15) *

-0.84 (-1.75, 0.06)^

Direct

-0.82 (-1.70, 0.06)^

-0.57 (-1.44, 0.30)

Indirect

-0.23 (-0.42, -0.05)*

-0.27 (-0.48, -0.07)*

% Mediated

21.9%

32.1%

  1. Notes: Combinations of breastfeeding-mediator pairs were based on significant associations in Fig. 1 (B) and Table 2. Depression and parent-child dysfunction are dichotomized to estimate clinically significant depression (score ≥ 16) and relationship dysfunction (score ≥ 20). Adjusted models in all figures and tables include the following confounders: child sex, prenatal stress, prenatal depression, study site, birth mode, birthweight, gestational age, household income, maternal education, maternal race, marital status, number of older siblings, prenatal smoking, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder genetic risk score. ^ p ≤ 0.1 (marginally significant), *p ≤ 0.05, **≤0.01, - mediation not tested due to very small total effect size. ¥ Total behaviour score mediation models are represented in Figs. 2 and 3
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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