Objective To explore the influence of early infant feeding practices on psychological development at 6 months of age through a cohort study, so as to provide evidence-based support for scientific infant feeding and developmental promotion. Methods A multicenter prospective cohort study design was adopted, recruiting 417 infants aged 3 months from four municipal and provincial maternal and child health hospitals in 2019.Infants were divided into exclusive breastfeeding and formula feeding groups based on their feeding mode, and were followed up until 6 months of age when their psychological development was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) across five domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social skills.Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between infant psychological development and feeding practices, as well as influencing factors. Results A total of 369 infants were included, with 218 (59.08%) in the exclusive breastfeeding group and 151 (40.92%) in the formula feeding group.The mean ASQ total score was 246.768±35.834 for the exclusive breastfeeding group was significantly higher than that in the formula feeding group (230.042±45.322) (t=3.697, P<0.001).Comparisons of scores across domains showed that infants in the exclusive breastfeeding group also significantly scored higher in gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social skills (P<0.05).After controlling for factors such as infant gender, ethnicity, delivery mode, maternal age, maternal education level, family structure, monthly per capita household income, and whether the infant was an only child, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months of age was a protective factor for infant psychological development at 6 months (β=15.106,95%CI: 6.790 - 23.421), particularly for the gross motor (β=4.767, 95%CI:1.886 - 7.649), fine motor (β=2.158, 95%CI: 0.050 - 4.267), problem-solving (β=2.834, 95%CI:0.755 - 4.912), and personal-social domains (β=4.671, 95%CI: 1.905 - 7.437). Conclusions Exclusive breastfeeding within the first 3 months of life positively promotes infants′ psychological development at 6 months of age.
Key words
exclusive breastfeeding /
formula feeding /
infants /
psychological development /
cohort study
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.content}}
References
[1] World Health Organization.WHO global nutrition targets 2025: Breastfeeding policy brief[R].Ceneva: WHO,2014.
[2] UNICEF.From the first hour of life: Making the case for improved infant and young child feeding everywhere[R].New York: UNICEF, 2016.
[3] 林蔷,陈简,杨秀芳,等.新生儿胆汁淤积症患儿肠道菌群与分娩方式及喂养方式的关系[J].中国微生态学杂志,2020,32(6):684-687,691.
Lin Q, Chen J, Yang XF, et al.Correlations between intestinal flora and modes of delivery and feeding in neonatal cholestatic liver disease patients[J].Chin J Microecol,2020, 32(6):684-687,691.(in Chinese)
[4] 张路曦.国新办举办《中国妇女发展纲要(2021-2030 年)》《中国儿童发展纲要(2021-2030年)》发布会[N].中国社会报,2021-09-28(001).
[5] 中华人民共和国国务院.国务院关于印发中国妇女发展纲要和中国儿童发展纲要的通知[EB/OL].(2011-07-30)[2025-06-05].https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1927200.htm
[6] 国家卫生健康委办公厅.母乳喂养促进行动计划(2021-2025年)[EB/OL].(2021-11-23)[2025-04-10].http://www.nhc.gov.cn/fys/s3585/202111/96aa8421ae0045708f3f06e776355193.shtml.
[7] 林雅敏.母乳喂养与人工喂养对婴儿免疫、营养及智能发育的影响比较[J].中外医学研究,2022,20(25):141-144.
Lin YM. Comparison of effects of breast feeding and artificial feeding on immunity, nutrition and intelligence development of infants[J].Chinese and Foreign Medical Research,2022,20(25):141-144.(in Chinese)
[8] 严美林.42天婴儿喂养方式与体格发育及营养状况的相关性研究[J].母婴世界,2020(13):95.
[9] Almutairi WM, Ludington SM, Quinn Griffin MT, et al.The role of skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding on atonic postpartum hemorrhage[J].Nurs Rep, 2020, 11(1):1-11.
[10] Sierra-Roca J, Climent J.Long-term breastfeeding: Protective effects against triple-negative breast cancer and the role of the breast microbiota[J].Pathogens, 2025, 14(9):946.
[11] Babic A, Sasamoto N, Rosner BA, et al.Association between breastfeeding and ovarian cancer risk[J].JAMA Oncol, 2020, 6(6):e200421.
[12] Purkiewicz A, Regin KJ, Mumtaz W, et al.Breastfeeding: The multifaceted impact on child development and maternal well-being[J].Nutrients, 2025, 17(8):1326.
[13] Kariyawasam KP, Somaratne G, Dillimuni SD, et al.Comparative analysis of breastfeeding and infant formulas: Short- and long-term impacts on infant nutrition and health[J].Food Sci Nutr, 2025, 13(9):e70788.
[14] 颉延卓,罗少龙,刘寅.不同喂养方式对早产儿脑损伤患儿的肝肾功能、神经心理发育及预后的影响[J].海南医学,2023,34(4):537-540.
Jie YZ, Luo SL, Liu Y. Effects of different feeding methods on liver and kidney function, neuropsychological development, and prognosis of brain injury in preterm infants[J]. Hainan Med J, 2023, 34(4):537-540.(in Chinese)
[15] 王彦蓉,吴晓刚.年龄与发育进程问卷(ASQ)系统在中国社会调查中的适用性[J].当代青年研究,2024(3):50-63.
Wang YR, Wu XG.Feasibility of using Ages and Stages Questionnaire(ASQ) system in population-based social survey in China[J].Contemporary Youth Research, 2024(3):50-63.(in Chinese)
[16] 魏梅,卞晓燕, Jane Squires,等.年龄与发育进程问卷中国常模及心理测量学特性研究[J].中华儿科杂志,2015,53(12):913-918.
Wei M, Bian XY, Jane Squires, et al. Studies of the norm and psychometrical properties of the ages and stages questionnaires, third edition, with a Chinese national sample[J]. Chin J Pediatr, 2015,53(12):913-918.(in Chinese)
[17] Wallenborn JT, Levine GA, Carreira Dos Santos A, et al.Breastfeeding, physical growth, and cognitive development[J].Pediatrics, 2021, 147(5):e2020008029.
[18] 张庆丽,张雯,张桂青.强化母乳喂养对出院后早产儿早期体格生长发育的影响[J].吉林医学,2024,45(4):805-808.
[19] 赵玲,王来栓.母乳改善早产儿脑损伤和神经发育的研究进展[J].复旦学报(医学版),2025,52(4):589-595.
Zhao L, Wang LS. Research progress on breast milk improving brain damage and neurodevelopment in preterm infants[J]. Fudan Univ J Med Sci,2025,52(4):589-595.(in Chinese)
[20] 徐竟宏,宋佳,徐华健,等.母乳低聚糖的结构多样性及其神经发育促进效应[J].中国食品学报,2025,25(5):86-100.
Xu JH, Song J, Xu HJ, et al. Structural diversity of human milk oligosaccharides and their neurodevelopment promoting effects[J]. Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology,2025,25(5):86-100.(in Chinese)
[21] Modak A, Ronghe V, Gomase KP.The psychological benefits of breastfeeding: Fostering maternal well-being and child development[J].Cureus, 2023, 15(10):e46730.
[22] 李璧,韦泽珺,刘建华,等.贵州省四民族儿童神经精神发育调查[J].中国心理卫生杂志,2016,30(1):35-39.
Li B, Wei ZJ, Liu JH, et al. A survey of neuropsychological development of four nationality children in Guizhou Province[J]. Chinese Mental Health Journal,2016,30(1):35-39.(in Chinese)
[23] Yang M, Violato M, Carson C.The changing role of family income in mental health from childhood to adolescence: Findings from a UK longitudinal study[J].Arch Public Health, 2025, 83(1):224.
[24] Chen X, Yeung WJJ.How income relates to young children′s development in different socioeconomic settings in China[J].Chin Sociol Rev, 2025, 57(2),143-171.
[25] Arora P, Sharma R.Social and interpersonal skills among single child and children with siblings[J].The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 2025, 13(2),1884-1909.
PDF(578 KB)
