Duration of Breastfeeding, Bottle-Feeding, and Parafunctional Oral Habits in Relation to Anxiety Disorders among Children

Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate the duration of breastfeeding in relation to various parafunctional oral habits in children with anxiety disorders. Materials and Methods: The study includes 195 children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and age-and gender-matched 255 healthy control subjects. Diagnoses were made with semistructured interview (K-SADS). Information about breastfeeding and parafunctional oral habits was investigated via a questionnaire prepared for the study. Results: The mean age was 11.50 ± 2.50 years for clinical group and 11.27 ± 2.33 years for controls. Fifty-four percent of the clinical group and 56% of the control group were female subjects. Duration of exclusive (4.72 ± 2.86, 5.55 ± 2.36; p = 0.002) and total breastfeeding (12.38 ± 10.32, 15.89 ± 9.09; p < 0.001) was significantly lower and duration of bottle-feeding (22.30 ± 19.54, 16.64 ± 12.79; p = 0.005) was higher than controls in the clinical group. Duration of exclusive breastfeeding was significantly correlated with duration of bottle-feeding (r =-0.263, p < 0.001) and duration of pacifier use (r =-0.249, p = 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that duration of exclusive breastfeeding (β = 0.88, p = 0.006) and bottle-feeding (β = 1.02, p = 0.005), as well as various oral habits, was associated with diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. Conclusion: Nutrition methods in early years of life may result in long-Term consequences regarding anxiety disorders for children. Clinicians should encourage parents for a shorter duration of bottle-feeding and a longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding.