The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Breastfeeding Success in Lactating Mothers

Abstract

Introduction: <br/>Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to promote children's health. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and success of breastfeeding. <br/>Materials and Methods: <br/>In a cross-sectional study in referring of multiple health centers in Shiraz, sample of 150 mothers with children aged one to three 3 years were selected using convenience sampling method and divided to breast fed and formula fed children groups, they obtained <em>Bar-on</em> and demographic questionnaire .Data were analyzed by SPSS software and Significant level for all tests was considered as 5%. <br/>Results: <br/>Mean age of mothers was 28.8±4.3 and the mean age of children was 19.80±5.8 years in breast fed and 18.98±6.25 in formula fed infants (p=0.406) ; 45.3% of them were high school graduates or low literate, and the rest of them were college educated. 71.3% of the women were housewives and most of them were nulliparous. 71.3% of all women had cesarean delivery. The mean duration of breastfeeding in children were 14.80±4.35 month in breast fed and 3.98±1.25 month in formula fed infants (p<0.001) . <br/>In terms of the average age, education and child birth rank, the two groups were not significantly different. Emotional Intelligence in the group of lactating mothers was significantly higher than non-lactating mothers (347 versus 296; P<0.001). <br/>Conclusion: <br/>Mothers who success in breastfeeding have higher EQ than non-lactating mothers. Since it is possible to identify and promote EQ, therefore, we can help to breastfeeding success of mothers.