Breastfeeding and Adult Personality

Abstract

Five Factor Model (FFM) personality traits are implicated in long-term health-risk behaviors and outcomes. Less research has addressed how early-life experiences are associated with individual differences in these traits in adulthood. We examine whether having been breastfed is associated with adult personality and well-being in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. At Wave 1, caregivers reported whether the target child had been breastfed. At Wave 4, participants (N=13,113; 53% female; Mage=28.98) completed measures of psychological functioning. We tested for mean-level differences in the traits by breastfeeding status (yes/no) and by the duration of breastfeeding, controlling for basic demographic factors and early-life factors that could confound the breastfeeding-personality association (e.g., mother education). Participants who had been breastfed scored lower in neuroticism, anxiety, and hostility and higher in openness and optimism than those not breastfed. A curvilinear relation suggested that neuroticism was lowest for those breastfed for 9–12 months and highest for those either breastfed for >24 months or exclusively bottle-fed. Breastfeeding was unrelated to conscientiousness or state psychological functioning. This research suggests long-term psychological benefits to breastfeeding and indicates that early life experiences are associated with traits that are consequential for adult health.

Examining exclusive breastfeeding in Iranian mothers using the five-factor model of personality traits

“…Conscientiousness tends to be associated with positive healthy behaviors such as breast feeding. 32 Costa & McCrae put orderliness, industriousness, impulse control, and caution in decision making at the heart of conscientiousness. 16 Mothers with a high score on this factor have a sense of adequacy, capability, and effectiveness.…”

Parental educational attainment and adult offspring personality: An intergenerational life span approach to the origin of adult personality traits.

“…Besides genetics, other factors such as differences in nutrition, disease, and exposure to pathogens and pollutants may mediate the association between parents’ years of education and offspring personality. For example, mothers with higher education are more likely to breastfeed their children (Li, Darling, Maurice, Barker, & Grummer-Strawn, 2005), which in turn is associated with lower Neuroticism and higher Openness (Sutin, Stephan, & Terracciano, in press). Malnutrition, which is more common in offspring of parents with fewer years of education and fewer resources, is another potential mediator (Galler et al, 2013).…”

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring personality in childhood and adulthood

“…Interest in adult personality development has focused more specifically on how life events in adulthood change the trajectory of the traits (Specht, Egloff, & Schmukle, ). There is also limited research on neonatal factors that contribute to adult personality, such as breastfeeding (Sutin, Stephan, & Terracciano, ). The present research indicates that an environmental factor experienced prenatally has potential long‐term associations with personality.…”