Christina Gibson-Davis (Duke University) Jeanne Brooks-Gunn (Columbia University)
Abstract
Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Survey (N = 3,567), we analyze the importance of relationship status, relationship quality, and race and ethnicity in determining breastfeeding initiation. We consider four relationship types at birth: married, cohabiting, romantically involved but not cohabiting (termed visiting), and nonromantically involved mothers. We find that marriage and coresidence among unwed couples is associated with breastfeeding as married mothers are more likely to breastfeed than unmarried mothers, and cohabiting unwed mothers are more likely to breastfeed than are visiting unwed mothers. Among all unmarried mothers, paternal provision of money or other assistance during pregnancy decreases the likelihood of breastfeeding; whereas among African Americans only, paternal emotional support was negatively correlated with breastfeeding initiation.
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing. in its series Working Papers with number
912.