Study Links Breastfeeding to Lower Depression, Anxiety Years Later

Credit: Adobe Stock/Анастасія Стягайло

Breastfeeding is often discussed in terms of infant health or short-term maternal well-being, but much less is known about whether it has lasting effects on a mother’s mental health years later. According to research published in BMJ Open, women who breastfed were less likely to experience depression or anxiety up to a decade later.

“We suggest there may be a protective effect of successful breastfeeding on postpartum depression and anxiety, which in turn lowers the risk of maternal depression and anxiety in the longer term,” wrote the team of investigators led by Catherine McNestry, M.D., of the University College Dublin’s Perinatal Research Centre, National Maternity Hospital.

This 10-year study followed women from their mid-30s into early midlife to explore whether breastfeeding history was linked to depression and anxiety well beyond the postpartum period.

Investigators analyzed data from 168 women in Ireland enrolled in the ROLO Longitudinal Cohort who had given birth and were no longer pregnant or breastfeeding at the 10-year follow-up. Using an Infant Feeding questionnaire, participants reported their lifetime breastfeeding history, including whether they ever breastfed, how long they exclusively breastfed and their total months of breastfeeding across all pregnancies.

Mental health history, including depression, anxiety and medication use, was collected repeatedly over the decade at each follow-up time point. Information on certain covariates, which were chosen based on known risk factors for mood disorders, were collected and included smoking status, alcohol intake, dietary intake and physical activity.

By the end of the study, participants were an average age of 42. About 73% had breastfed at least once, and more than one-third breastfed for a total of 12 months or longer over their lifetime. At the 10-year mark, 13% reported depression or anxiety, while about 21% reported experiencing these conditions at some point during the full study period.

The findings showed a consistent pattern: Women who had ever breastfed were significantly less likely to report depression or anxiety later in life. Those who breastfed longer, especially women who exclusively breastfed for more weeks or breastfed for at least a year total, also had lower odds of experiencing depression or anxiety across the decade of follow-up. Even small increases in exclusive breastfeeding duration were linked to modest mental health benefits.

While the study does not prove that breastfeeding directly prevents depression or anxiety, it suggests a potentially protective association that extends far beyond the postpartum period. The team emphasized that breastfeeding decisions are complex and influenced by many factors, and that further studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore unmeasured or residual confounding factors.

Investigators noted that the study had a relatively small sample size, which may have limited its ability to detect some associations. Because the data were observational, the findings show links rather than cause and effect, and a randomized trial would not be ethical given the known benefits of breastfeeding. Follow-up assessments were infrequent and irregular over the 10-year period, and the reasons for antidepressant use or participation in other treatments like counseling were not captured. These factors may affect how the results are interpreted.

“We know that improving breastfeeding rates and duration can improve lifetime health outcomes, reducing population level disease burden and resulting in significant health care savings,” investigators concluded. “The possibility that breastfeeding could further reduce the huge burden of depression on individuals, families, health care systems and economies only adds to the argument for policy makers to improve breastfeeding support.”