Perceptions of Public Breastfeeding Images and Their Association With Breastfeeding Knowledge and Attitudes Among an Internet Panel of Men Ages 21–44 in the United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna M. Magnusson ◽  
Callie R. Thackeray ◽  
Sarah A. Van Wagenen ◽  
Siena F. Davis ◽  
Rickelle Richards ◽  
...  

Background: Men’s attitudes toward public breastfeeding may influence a woman’s decisions about breastfeeding and her perceived comfort with public breastfeeding. Research aim: This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with men’s visual perception of images of public breastfeeding. Methods: A 95-item online survey was administered to 502 U.S. men ages 21 to 44. Respondents were presented with four images of women breastfeeding and asked to evaluate agreement with 15 adjectives describing each image. Based on factor analysis, 13 of these adjectives were combined to create the Breastfeeding Images Scale for each image. An 8-item Situational Statements Scale and the 17-item Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) were used to assess breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes. Multiple regression was used to evaluate the association between breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge and the Breastfeeding Images Scale. Results: The image depicting a woman breastfeeding privately at home had the highest mean score of 71.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) [70.69, 73.22], on the Breastfeeding Images Scale, compared with 61.93, 95% CI [60.51, 63.36], for the image of a woman breastfeeding in a public setting. The overall mean scale score for the IIFAS was 56.99, 95% CI [56.27, 57.70], and for the Situational Statements Scale was 28.80, 95% CI [27.92, 29.69]. For all images, increasing breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes measured by the IIFAS and the Situational Statements Scale were associated with a more positive perception of the image. Conclusion: Images of public breastfeeding are viewed less favorably by men in the sample than are images of private breastfeeding. Knowledge and attitudes toward breastfeeding are positively associated with perception of breastfeeding images.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christi J. Guerrini ◽  
Sophie C. Schneider ◽  
Andrew G. Guzick ◽  
Gifty N. Amos Nwankwo ◽  
Isabel Canfield ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a significant global toll on emotional well-being, but evidence of mental health impacts in the United States remains limited. In April 2020, we conducted an exploratory survey of U.S. residents to understand prevalence of and factors associated with psychological distress during the pandemic. Data collection was conducted using Qualtrics, an online survey platform, and U.S. adult respondents were recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform. Among 1,366 respondents, 42% (n = 571) reported clinically significant anxiety and 38% (n = 519) reported clinically significant depression. Factors associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms included Hispanic/Latino ethnicity; younger age; lower income; employment as or living with a health care worker-first responder; caregiver status; SARS-CoV-2 infection status; decreased frequency of engagement in healthy behaviors; and changed frequency of engagement in unhealthy behaviors. That some of these factors are associated with elevated distress during the pandemic is not yet widely appreciated and might be useful in informing management of mental health care resources.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea E. Cassidy-Bushrow ◽  
Mohammed Baseer ◽  
Karen Kippen ◽  
Albert M. Levin ◽  
Jia Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Public Health policies related to social distancing efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic helped slow the infection rate. However, individual-level factors associated with social distancing are largely unknown. We sought to examine social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, an infection “hotspot” state in the United States early in the pandemic. Methods Two surveys were distributed to Michigan residents via email lists and social media following COVID-19 related state mandates in March; 45,691 adults responded to the first survey and 8512 to the second. Staying home ≥ 3 out of 5 previous days defined having more social distancing. Logistic regression models were used to examine potential factors associated with more social distancing. Results Most respondents were women (86% in Survey 1, 87% in Survey 2). In Survey 1, 63% reported more social distancing, increasing to 78% in Survey 2. Female sex and having someone (or self) sick in the home were consistently associated with higher social distancing, while increasing age was positively associated in Survey 1 but negatively associated in Survey 2. Most respondents felt social distancing policies were important (88% in Survey 1; 91% in Survey 2). Conclusions Michiganders responding to the surveys were both practicing and supportive of social distancing. State-level executive orders positively impacted behaviors early in the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan. Additional supports are needed to help vulnerable populations practice social distancing, including older individuals.


1981 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 527-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Smith ◽  
C. Flaherty ◽  
L. Webb

The current study investigated the extent to which a 9-wk. course on human sexuality for teachers changed their knowledge and attitudes. Significant changes were found from the pre- to post-course assessment on both measures of knowledge. The only significant change in attitude scores, however, was on the Autoeroticism Attitude Scale. This pilot program encourages further exploration of the differences in methodological approaches and the long-term effects of training on specific attitudes and knowledge.


Author(s):  
Lilian O. Ezechi ◽  
Victoria Otobo ◽  
Patricia E. Mbah ◽  
Oliver C. Ezechi

Background: Excusive breastfeeding practice in Nigeria is reportedly dwindling, yet the current breastfeeding practices and challenges remain largely unknown. To use the Iowa infant feeding attitude scale (IIFAS) to assess the breastfeeding knowledge and attitude of recently delivered mothers in Lagos Nigeria.Methods: A community-based survey. Study-related data were obtained from 636 mothers selected through multistage sampling, using IIFAS. The scale was validated for our environment before use in the study. The study data were managed with SPSS version 22.0.Results: The prevalence of any breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months and timely initiation of breastfeeding was 99.5%, 22.2% and 47.4% respectively. While the mothers had some knowledge of breastfeeding, their overall knowledge and attitudes about breastfeeding were positive towards infant formula than breastfeeding. More than half of the mothers in our study stated that infant formula was as healthy for infants as breastmilk (62.3%), formula feeding is the better choice if the mother plans to go back to work (80.7%), and that formula feeding was more convenient than breastfeeding (56.9%). Previous exclusive breastfeeding experience (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.15, 8.41), being a housewife (OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.14, 10.9), and having a positive attitude to breastfeeding (OR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3, 11.6) were found to be associated with exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusions: Although breastfeeding was almost universal in the study area (99.5%), the knowledge and attitude to exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) were suboptimal. Public health education on breastfeeding should be intensified before, during and after pregnancy to improve mother’s EBF knowledge and attitude.


2021 ◽  
pp. 074193252199946
Author(s):  
So Yoon Kim

Disability support office (DSO) staff are responsible for providing appropriate support for an increasing population of autistic undergraduate students. A total of 153 DSO staff members in higher education institutions in the United States completed an online survey on their autism attitudes and knowledge, previous contact with autistic people, and demographic characteristics. Multiple regressions were conducted to investigate which variables uniquely predict their attitudes and knowledge. Quality of contact and education level predicted openness toward autism. Quality and quantity of contact, knowledge, and public versus private status of institutions predicted social distance toward autistic individuals. Finally, quality of contact, school size, and average annual cost predicted their knowledge. The underlying mechanisms between institutional variables and autism attitudes and knowledge need to be explored. Understanding what kinds of institutional supports and context-appropriate training should be provided to promote collaborative relationships between DSO staff and autistic students is a promising avenue for future studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 108-113
Author(s):  
Merav Efrat

BackgroundMore breastfeeding interventions targeting female and male undergraduates before they become parents are needed to foster accurate breastfeeding knowledge, positive attitudes toward breastfeeding, and a greater intent to breastfeed. This study aimed to assess the impact of completing a lactation elective course on undergraduates' breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and intention.MethodsPre- and postcourse surveys were administered to 96 undergraduates from various majors enrolled in a lactation elective.ResultsFrom pre- to postcourse, this study found significant increases in undergraduates' breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and intent.ConclusionsBecause most undergraduates in the United States become parents only after graduation, universities have an opportunity to foster the knowledge and attitudes needed to breastfeed successfully. As breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes in men and women are strong predictors of breastfeeding intent, initiation, and duration, offering undergraduate lactation elective courses is a promising strategy to improve future parents' breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and intention, helping to normalize breastfeeding and improve breastfeeding rates.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea E. Cassidy-Bushrow ◽  
Mohammed Baseer ◽  
Karen Kippen ◽  
Albert M. Levin ◽  
Jia Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Public Health policies related to social distancing efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic helped slow the infection rate. However, individual-level factors associated with social distancing are largely unknown. We sought to examine social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, an infection “hotspot” state in the United States early in the pandemic.Methods: Two surveys were distributed to Michigan residents via email lists and social media following COVID-19 related state mandates in March; 45,691 adults responded to the first survey and 8,512 to the second. Staying home ≥ 3 out of 5 previous days defined having more social distancing. Logistic regression models were used to examine potential factors associated with more social distancing.Results: Most respondents were women (86% in Survey 1, 87% in Survey 2). In Survey 1, 63% reported more social distancing, increasing to 78% in Survey 2. Female sex and having someone (or self) sick in the home were consistently associated with higher social distancing, while increasing age was positively associated in Survey 1 but negatively associated in Survey 2. Most respondents felt social distancing policies were important (88% in Survey 1; 91% in Survey 2). Conclusions: Michiganders responding to the surveys were both practicing and supportive of social distancing. State-level executive orders positively impacted behaviors early in the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan. Additional supports are needed to help vulnerable populations practice social distancing, including older individuals.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunsoon Park ◽  
Narang Park ◽  
Wookjae Heo ◽  
Kim Gustafson

Online surveys are frequently used in higher education to collect students’ opinions. This study investigated the factors associated with students’ willingness to respond to online surveys. Using 540 samples from undergraduate and graduate students in the United States, this study conducted a factor analysis to categorize the reasons that students willingly participate in online surveys. Four factors were identified: Format, Affiliation, Content, and Contact. The regression analysis revealed format was significantly associated with the undergraduate students’ online survey participation, while content was significantly related to the graduate students’ online survey participation. These findings indicate the behavior of responding to online surveys may vary depending on the participants’ educational level. They also suggest a need to develop different strategies when designing online surveys for educational purposes to enhance response rates.


2020 ◽  
pp. 152483992093479
Author(s):  
Melinda J. Ickes ◽  
Amanda T. Wiggins ◽  
Mary Kay Rayens ◽  
Ellen J. Hahn

Background. Almost 2,000 campuses have adopted tobacco-free (TF) policies across the United States. However, there is not a systematic process to help campuses implement successful policies. Readiness assessments can help provide assistance as campuses work to implement successful policies. Purpose. We assessed readiness for TF policies among campuses of a statewide university system and determined factors associated with readiness. Participants. Stakeholders from 23 campuses without 100% TF policies were invited to participate in an online survey. Method. System administrators provided contacts for five to eight stakeholders per campus. Included in the analysis were 10 of 23 campuses (43.5%) with at least three stakeholders completing the survey. Results. Of the 10 campuses, one was in Preplanning, five were in Preparation, and four were in the Initiation stage of readiness. Political Climate was the highest scored dimension on seven campuses (0.74–1.0); Resources was the lowest on eight campuses (0.0–0.67). Campus size and county rurality were each associated with one dimension score. Conclusions. Despite being part of a statewide university system, campuses are in varying stages of readiness for TF policies. Stage-based strategies to advance TF campus policies must be implemented to set campuses up for successful policies.


2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Guiberson

Purpose The purpose of the present study was (a) to describe factors and trends associated with Spanish parents' choice of communication modality and spoken-language bilingualism for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) and (b) to identify if bilingual variables predict children's bilingual status in a country where bilingualism is common. Method Seventy-one Spanish parents of children who are DHH completed an online survey that included questions about demographics, family and professional involvement and support, accessibility to information and services, and bilingual background and beliefs. Analyses were completed to describe groups and to examine how variables were associated with parents' decisions. Results Thirty-eight percent of parents chose to raise their children to be spoken-language bilingual. Most parents indicated that they believed being bilingual was beneficial for their children and that children who are DHH are capable of becoming bilingual in spoken languages. Parent's bilingual score, beliefs about raising children who are DHH bilingually, and encouragement to do so, were significantly associated with children's bilingual status. Conclusion In communities where bilingualism is common, bilingual parents will often choose to raise children who are DHH bilingual in spoken languages. Implications for practice and future studies in the United States are provided.


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