{
  "abstract": "Objectives Although breastfeeding is associated with lower postnatal depression and anxiety, limited research exists regarding long-term maternal mental health outcomes. This study examined the association between breastfeeding and depression and anxiety in women of later reproductive age (mid 30s to menopause).Design This was a 10-year prospective longitudinal cohort study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect lifetime breastfeeding behaviour at 10 years, and health history including depression, anxiety and medication use was collected at each study timepoint.Setting A tertiary level maternity hospital in Dublin, Ireland.Participants 168 parous women from the ROLO Longitudinal Cohort with lifetime breastfeeding behaviour and health history data available at 10 years were included (22% of total cohort). Women currently pregnant or breastfeeding at 10-year follow-up were excluded.Results Mean (SD) age at study end was 42.4 (3.8) years. 72.6% (n=122) of women reported ever breastfeeding. Median lifetime exclusive breastfeeding was 5.5 weeks (IQR 35.8, range 0–190). 37.5% of women (n=63) breastfed for ≥12 months over their lifetime. 13.1% (n=22) reported depression or anxiety at 10 years, and 20.8% (n=35) reported depression or anxiety over the whole study period. Ever breastfeeding was associated with less depression and anxiety at 10 years (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.94, p=0.04). Ever breastfeeding, longer exclusive breastfeeding and lifetime breastfeeding ≥12 months were associated with lower depression and anxiety over the whole study period (ever breastfeeding OR 0.4, p=0.03; exclusive breastfeeding OR 0.98/week, p=0.03; lifetime breastfeeding ≥12 months OR 0.38, p=0.04).Conclusion There may be a protective association between breastfeeding and self-reported depression and anxiety. Further studies are required to confirm the findings.Trial registration number ISRCTN54392969.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "UCD Perinatal Research Centre, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Catherine McNestry"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "UCD Perinatal Research Centre, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland",
        "School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Sharleen L O’Reilly"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Pathology, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland",
        "School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Patrick J Twomey"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland",
        "Department of Endocrinology, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Rachel K Crowley"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "UCD Perinatal Research Centre, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Sophie Callanan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Support and Training in Analysis and Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Alice Kasemiire"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Alexander Douglass"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "UCD Perinatal Research Centre, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Anna Delahunt"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "UCD Perinatal Research Centre, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland",
        "School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland"
      ],
      "name": "Fionnuala M McAuliffe"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Breastfeeding and later depression and anxiety in mothers in Ireland: a 10-year prospective observational study",
  "uid": "48ef55e2-b2d8-56aa-ad05-9159e241ee06"
}