Date of Award

Spring 5-2018

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Department

Child and Family Studies

First Advisor

Lindsay Wright

Advisor Department

Child and Family Studies

Abstract

Breastfeeding rates have increased and declined throughout time. Perceptions of breastfeeding are mixed, with those finding it to be inappropriate and others finding it to be natural. The purpose in this study is to gain a better understanding of how college students in south Mississippi perceive breastfeeding. The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitudes Scale (IIFAS), a 17-item questionnaire aimed to explore an individual’s attitudes toward infant feeding. The Breastfeeding Behavior Questionnaire (BBQ) presented 12 scenarios of breastfeeding in public as a means to explore how participants would react to those encounters. Data was collected from 151 college students through an online questionnaire. Frequencies were calculated, and ANOVA’s were used to compare groups. The current findings suggest that college students in south Mississippi exhibit neutral to positive views toward breastfeeding. Strengths, limitations, and directions for future research are further discussed.

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