Abstract
Because breastfeeding behaviors are influenced by social norms, we examined public opinions toward societal supports for breastfeeding using data from the 2015 and 2024 SummerStyles surveys (N = 4127 and N = 4371, respectively, from the noninstitutionalized US population). In 2024, 81.9% of respondents agreed “there should be paid maternity leave for workers,” 73.5% believed “women should have the right to breastfeed in public places,” 66.9% agreed “women should be encouraged to breastfeed,” and 65.9% agreed “a mother needs a lot of support to breastfeed her baby”—up 12, 11, 5, and 17 percentage points, respectively, from 2015. High and increased positive public opinions about supports for breastfeeding suggest heightened approval for breastfeeding-supportive programs and policies.
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