There are at this time 112 comments on this page. I searched for "emotion" and got zero hits, and only one comment mentioned "bonding." A problem with any scientific assessment of the human condition is the narrow focus, and these studies only take into account a few variables out of thousands.
Emotional bonding between mother and child is a huge factor in breastfeeding -- that's common sense that doesn't require scientific validation, although it would be very interesting to see studies from that perspective.
I'd call it handwaving rather than common sense. What does emotional bonding even mean? Are bottle fed children more emotionally distant and less clingy? Remember: in the 1970s, only 25% of children were ever breastfed. Are Gen X-ers emotionally distant compared to boomers and millenials?
I recall articles that say that current teenagers and young adults have closer relationships with their parents then previous generation. However, much more changed in the child raising then just breastfeeding.
Parents that bottle feed (bm or formula) can still bond with their babies. I exclusively pump, and it made me really happy to see that my male partner was able to feed the baby and do a lot of skin-to-skin/holding time in the early days. I love cuddling with my kid too. Bottle didn't change that at all.
Emotional bonding between mother and child is a huge factor in breastfeeding -- that's common sense that doesn't require scientific validation, although it would be very interesting to see studies from that perspective.