Short-Term Memory of Preschool Children and Breastfeeding Duration (Comparative Study)

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the benefits of breastfeeding on short-term memory in preschool children and to identify differences in short-term memory between breastfed children based on gender and age. The researchers followed a causal-comparative approach, conducting a cross-sectional study between two groups of children. The study sample consisted of 32 children, divided into two groups: a breastfed group of 17 children who were breastfed for two years, and a formula-fed group of 15 children. The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale-4 (SBSI-4) was applied to all participants to measure short-term memory. Data were analyzed using the (SPSS) program, using independent samples t-tests and paired samples t-tests. The results showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.000) in mean short-term memory scores between the preschool children, favoring the group of children who were breastfed for two years. There are statistically significant differences (p < 0.000) in the mean short-term memory test scores among breastfed children, according to the age variable, favoring the 5-6 year group. However, there are no statistically significant differences in the mean short-term memory test scores among breastfed children according to the gender variable. Based on these findings, the researchers offer several recommendations, most importantly: encouraging mothers to breastfeed their children for as long as possible during the first two years to give the child the optimal opportunity for brain development, which in turn promotes the development of psychological and cognitive traits, including memory.