Skip to main content
Journal cover image

The Influence of Acculturation on Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration for Mexican-Americans

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kimbro, RT; Lynch, SM; McLanahan, S
Published in: Population Research and Policy Review
2008

This paper uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to test the hypotheses that (1) similar to other positive pre- and post-natal outcomes, Mexican immigrant mothers are more likely to breastfeed, and to breastfeed longer, than white or Mexican-American mothers; and (2) acculturation accounts for the ethnic/nativity differential in breastfeeding initiation and duration. The results support both hypotheses. Mexican immigrants to the U.S. are much more likely than whites to breastfeed, and to breastfeed longer. Mexican-American mothers, after controlling for background characteristics, have similar initiation and duration to whites. Using expanded acculturation measures developed for this paper, acculturation accounts for some of the difference between whites and Mexican immigrants in breastfeeding initiation, and much of the difference for breastfeeding duration. The results suggest that low levels of acculturation operate to protect Mexican immigrants from choosing to formula-feed, which gives their babies many health advantages, and may be associated with better health outcomes across the life course. The results also suggest that successive generations of Mexican immigrants may abandon breastfeeding, which is deleterious for their infants.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Population Research and Policy Review

DOI

ISSN

0167-5923

Publication Date

2008

Volume

27

Issue

2

Start / End Page

183 / 199

Related Subject Headings

  • Demography
  • 4406 Human geography
  • 4403 Demography
  • 1603 Demography
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Kimbro, R. T., Lynch, S. M., & McLanahan, S. (2008). The Influence of Acculturation on Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration for Mexican-Americans. Population Research and Policy Review, 27(2), 183–199. https://doi.org/10.2307/41217944
Kimbro, R. T., S. M. Lynch, and S. McLanahan. “The Influence of Acculturation on Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration for Mexican-Americans.” Population Research and Policy Review 27, no. 2 (2008): 183–99. https://doi.org/10.2307/41217944.
Kimbro RT, Lynch SM, McLanahan S. The Influence of Acculturation on Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration for Mexican-Americans. Population Research and Policy Review. 2008;27(2):183–99.
Kimbro, R. T., et al. “The Influence of Acculturation on Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration for Mexican-Americans.” Population Research and Policy Review, vol. 27, no. 2, 2008, pp. 183–99. Manual, doi:10.2307/41217944.
Kimbro RT, Lynch SM, McLanahan S. The Influence of Acculturation on Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration for Mexican-Americans. Population Research and Policy Review. 2008;27(2):183–199.
Journal cover image

Published In

Population Research and Policy Review

DOI

ISSN

0167-5923

Publication Date

2008

Volume

27

Issue

2

Start / End Page

183 / 199

Related Subject Headings

  • Demography
  • 4406 Human geography
  • 4403 Demography
  • 1603 Demography