DEVELOPMENT OF A SCALE TO MEASURE GENDER-ROLE ATTITUDES TOWARD BREAST-FEEDING AMONG PRIMIPARAS

Women's roles have undergone rapid transformation in recent decades an d appear to affect the decision to breast-feed. Research in this area has been hampered by the lack of valid instruments to measure the rele vant domains of gender-role related considerations. This study develop ed a scale to measure gender-role attitudes toward breast-feeding in p rimiparous women. Ninety-one married women, recruited during childbirt h education classes in the Chicago metropolitan area, were surveyed by mail at eight weeks postpartum regarding their experiences as new mot hers. Questionnaire items measuring infant feeding method (breast-feed ing, bottle feeding) and attitudes toward breast-feeding were develope d specifically for this investigation. Validity and reliability were a ssessed by structural equations analysis using LISREL. The LISREL fit statistics supported a one factor measurement model and combining the six items into a scale. Reliability analysis yielded a standardized al pha coefficient of .74. If results of future research are promising, t he scale could be used to target new mothers with multiple roles for e ducation and support and to evaluate interventions designed to promote positive breast-feeding attitudes and behavior.