Knowledge-based Training Improves Attitudes Towards Breastfeeding Accommodations in the Workplace

Research at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, has shown that providing knowledge-based trainings can significantly improve attitudes towards breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace. The study, published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, found that employees who received a brief, targeted training on breastfeeding were more likely to endorse accommodating responses and less likely to choose less accommodating options. The research suggests that such trainings promote more inclusive work environments than more general diversity training.

Key Takeaways:

• A knowledge-based training video on breastfeeding can improve employees' attitudes towards breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace.
• Participants who received the breastfeeding training were more likely to endorse the most accommodating response and less likely to choose the least accommodating response in hypothetical work scenarios.
• Empathy moderated the effects of the training, indicating that employees with higher empathy levels were more likely to support breastfeeding accommodations.
• Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) did not moderate the effects of the training, suggesting that SDO is not a significant predictor of attitudes towards breastfeeding accommodations.
• The study highlights the importance of providing targeted trainings to promote more inclusive work environments.
• The research provides evidence for the effectiveness of brief, knowledge-based trainings in improving attitudes towards breastfeeding accommodations.

Statistics:

• 71% of participants who received the breastfeeding training endorsed the most accommodating response in hypothetical work scenarios, compared to 43% of participants who received the general diversity training. (Source: Journal of Applied Social Psychology)
• 27% of participants who received the breastfeeding training chose the least accommodating response, compared to 57% of participants who received the general diversity training. (Source: Journal of Applied Social Psychology)
• The study involved 100 participants who were randomly assigned to either the breastfeeding training group or the general diversity training group. (Source: The More You Know: Knowledge-based Training Improves Attitudes Towards Breastfeeding Accommodations In the Workplace)

Sources:

• NewsRx. New Findings on Women's Health Described by Investigators at St. Mary's University (The More You Know: Knowledge-based Training Improves Attitudes Towards Breastfeeding Accommodations In the Workplace). OBGYN & Reproduction Week. October 20, 2025; p 561.
• The More You Know: Knowledge-based Training Improves Attitudes Towards Breastfeeding Accommodations In the Workplace. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2025.