Experimental research has not examined possible formula feeding stigma. We explored whether mothers encounter stigma resulting from infant feeding method and if formula feeding stigma is impacted by whether this feeding method was intended or unintended. Experiment 1 (N = 252) exposed participants to a social media post in which a mother described intentionally breastfeeding, formula feeding, or did not mention a feeding method (control). Results provided the first experimental evidence of formula feeding stigma; the formula feeding mother was viewed less positively than the identical breastfeeding and control mothers, who were typically not perceived differently than one another. Experiment 2 (N = 388) added conditions in which feeding methods were unintended. When feeding methods were intended, results replicated Experiment 1. However, when feeding methods were unintended, the pattern fully reversed; unintended formula feeders were viewed more positively than unintended breast-feeders. Further, women who formula fed were penalized when they did so intentionally, while those who breastfed were penalized when they did so unintentionally. This suggests that formula feeding stigma stems primarily from perceptions of feeding intentions (rather than the belief that breast milk is superior) because mothers who planned to formula feed were viewed more negatively than those who planned to breastfeed, regardless of whether babies actually received formula or breast milk. These results imply that caregivers, health care providers, and policy makers should be mindful of the potential for pro-breastfeeding rhetoric to be associated with formula feeding stigma (with potential consequences for the health of women and infants) and consider implementing interventions designed to reduce stigma and promote awareness of the safety and utility of proper formula use.

中文翻译：

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乳房是（被视为）最好的：展示配方喂养的耻辱

实验研究尚未检查可能的配方喂养耻辱。我们探讨了母亲是否会因婴儿喂养方法而受到歧视，以及这种喂养方法是有意还是无意会影响配方奶喂养的耻辱感。实验 1（N = 252）让参与者接触社交媒体帖子，其中一位母亲描述了有意母乳喂养、配方奶喂养或未提及喂养方法（对照）。结果提供了配方喂养柱头的第一个实验证据；配方奶喂养的母亲被认为不如相同的母乳喂养母亲和对照组母亲那么积极，她们通常被认为彼此没有不同。实验 2 (N = 388) 添加了非预期饲喂方法的条件。当采用饲喂方法时，结果重复了实验 1。然而，当喂食方法出乎意料时，模式完全逆转；意外的配方奶喂养者比意外的母乳喂养者更受欢迎。此外，配方奶喂养的女性在故意这样做时会受到惩罚，而母乳喂养的女性在无意中这样做时会受到惩罚。这表明配方奶喂养的耻辱主要源于对喂养意图的看法（而不是认为母乳更好），因为计划喂养配方奶的母亲比计划母乳喂养的母亲更消极，无论婴儿是否实际接受了配方奶或母乳。这些结果意味着护理人员、医疗保健提供者、