Background: Numerous efforts to promote breastfeeding resulted in a steady increase in the rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration. Increasing numbers of breastfeeding interventions are focused on breastfeeding maintenance and exclusivity and based on behavioral theories. Few studies critically analyzed the use of theories in breastfeeding intervention development and evaluation. Research aim: The aim of this critical review was to examine the existing literature about breastfeeding intervention, and investigate the role of theory in its development, implementation, and evaluation to provide future directions and implications for breastfeeding interventions. Methods: This critical review examined the existing breastfeeding intervention studies that used self-efficacy theories (SE), theory of planned behavior (TPB), and social cognitive theory (SCT) and were published during the past decade. Using five databases, studies in which researchers explicitly applied these three theories to frame the intervention were selected. Studies were critically reviewed for fidelity to theory in intervention design, delivery, and evaluation. Results: Eighteen studies were reviewed: nine SE-, five TPB-, and four SCT-based. Most interventions were focused on building mothers’ breastfeeding self-efficacy to improve breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. To achieve this goal, researchers who developed SE-based interventions used individual approaches, whereas other researchers who based studies on TPB incorporated social and environmental changes. SE-based studies were more likely to include theory-based instruments, but TPB- and SCT-based studies demonstrated less consistent choices of measurement. Researchers in most studies did not test the relationships between the proposed theoretical constructs and breastfeeding outcomes as guided by theories. Inconsistent outcomes resulted among the studies due to variations in study follow-ups. Conclusion: Sound applications of single or multiple theories demonstrate a great potential to help practitioners and researchers develop effective breastfeeding interventions and evaluate true impacts on positive breastfeeding outcomes.

No abstract

Background and ObjectiveThere is no report on the effects of horseback riding on children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 4 weeks of horseback riding on anxiety, depression, self esteem, attention, and learning disorder in children with ADHD.

To better understand the dynamics of cell phone use among a sample of college students and their attachment for their parents, our study investigated the attitudes toward cell phone use, distinguishing patterns of cell phone users, and user group and gender differences related to attachment to parents among college students. Findings of this study point to implications for further research in three areas: cell phone use and adoption of special functions, family studies, and measurement improvement.

No abstract