Prolonged Breastfeeding and Family Dynamics: An Empirical Research

Several studies indicate that prolonged breastfeeding is associated with a tendency to idealize motherhood, with maternal symbiotic tendencies to defer normal separation process and with a dysfunction of the couple relationship. This empirical study aims to understand the psychological reasons underlying the decision to prolong breastfeeding beyond 12 to 18 months of the child and also to investigate, according to a systemic perspective, as this practice is inserted into the broader context of family dynamics. In particular, it seemed interesting to us to test empirically the hypothesis that a condition of prolonged breastfeeding could be indicative of specific styles of family functioning.