Shipp Gayle M, Weatherspoon Lorraine J, Comstock Sarah S, Alexander Gwen L, Gardiner Joseph C, Kerver Jean M
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA.
Am J Health Promot. 2023 May;37(4):534-537. doi: 10.1177/08901171221138275. Epub 2022 Nov 4.
Perceived Social Support (PSS) can impact breastfeeding behaviors, and a lack of PSS potentially contributes to disparities in breastfeeding rates for African American women (AA). Objectives were to describe PSS at two timepoints and test associations between PSS and breastfeeding intensity for AA.
Data are from a feasibility trial of breastfeeding support among AA. The Hughes Breastfeeding Support Scale was used to measure PSS (Emotional, Informational, Tangible; total range = 30-120) in pregnancy (T1, = 32) and early postpartum (T2, = 31). Scale means were compared with t-tests. Associations between PSS at T1 and breastfeeding intensity (ie, quantitative measure of breastfeeding) were assessed with linear regression.
Total PSS (mean ± SE) was high at both time points (T1 = 90.5 ± 4.8; T2 = 92.8 ± 3.1). At T2, older participants or those living with a partner had higher total PSS scores compared to those younger or living alone. Emotional PSS was significantly higher at T2 than T1 with no differences in tangible or informational PSS over time. Mixed-feeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and exclusive formula feeding was distributed at 39%, 32%, and 29%, respectively. Total PSS was not associated with breastfeeding intensity.
Women reported high levels of social support, and emotional PSS increased over time in this small sample of AA. PSS and sources of PSS are understudied, especially among AA, and future studies should explore quantitative methods to assess PSS. The results of such assessments can then be used to design breastfeeding support interventions.
感知社会支持（PSS）会影响母乳喂养行为，而缺乏PSS可能是导致非裔美国女性（AA）母乳喂养率存在差异的原因之一。本研究的目的是描述两个时间点的PSS情况，并检验AA群体中PSS与母乳喂养强度之间的关联。
数据来自一项针对AA群体的母乳喂养支持可行性试验。采用休斯母乳喂养支持量表在孕期（T1，n = 32）和产后早期（T2，n = 31）测量PSS（情感、信息、实际支持；总分范围 = 30 - 120）。量表均值通过t检验进行比较。采用线性回归评估T1时的PSS与母乳喂养强度（即母乳喂养的定量测量）之间的关联。
两个时间点的总PSS（均值±标准误）均较高（T1 = 90.5 ± 4.8；T2 = 92.8 ± 3.1）。在T2时，年龄较大的参与者或与伴侣同住的参与者的总PSS得分高于年龄较小或独自生活的参与者。情感PSS在T2时显著高于T1，而实际支持或信息支持随时间无差异。混合喂养、纯母乳喂养和纯配方奶喂养的分布分别为39%、32%和29%。总PSS与母乳喂养强度无关。
在这个小样本的AA群体中，女性报告的社会支持水平较高，且情感PSS随时间增加。PSS及其来源的研究较少，尤其是在AA群体中，未来的研究应探索评估PSS的定量方法。然后，这些评估结果可用于设计母乳喂养支持干预措施。
