Body understanding measure for pregnancy scale (BUMPs): Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties among Brazilian pregnant women

The Body Understanding Measure for Pregnancy Scale (BUMPs) is a scale developed and validated for British pregnant women to assess body satisfaction during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to perform a cross-cultural adaptation and verify the psychometric properties of BUMPs for Brazilian adult pregnant women. The cross-cultural adaptation was performed using translation, back-translation, expert committee, expert analysis, and pre-testing, which showed easy comprehension by pregnant women. Psychometric analyses were evaluated in a sample of 618 pregnant women (31.08 ± 4.94 years old). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses resulted in 19 items and three factors, with satisfactory fit indices. BUMPs presented an invariant measurement across white vs. nonwhite women and across the three gestational trimesters. BUMPs showed good indicators of convergent, internal consistency, and test-retest reproducibility validity. It was concluded that the Brazilian version of BUMPs has adequate psychometric properties for Brazilian pregnant women, being an excellent instrument for analyzing body satisfaction in this population, facilitating additional investigations into these constructs.

Self-objectification in Chinese pregnant women: The mixed role of functionality appreciation

Extensions of objectification theory to pregnant women are few and continued research is needed to better understand the psychological consequences of significant changes to physical appearance during pregnancy. Specific interests in this area include functionality appreciation which may be particularly relevant to pregnancy. Research in this area is also lacking representation of non-Western cultural contexts. To this end, we employed an online survey to assess objectification theory and functionality appreciation in Chinese pregnant women (N = 345). Correlations showed that higher body surveillance and body shame were associated with higher disordered eating and psychological distress, and higher functionality appreciation was associated with lower body surveillance, body shame, and disordered eating. Mediation analyses suggested that higher body surveillance was associated with higher body shame which, in turn, was associated with higher disordered eating and psychological distress. Main effects suggested a negative association between functionality appreciation and body shame, but moderation analyses suggested that higher functionality appreciation strengthened the positive association between body surveillance and body shame. Findings underscore objectification theory as a useful framework to understand eating and body image disturbances and psychological distress in Chinese pregnant women and outline future directions to clarify the temporal nature of these associations and the precise role of functionality appreciation.

Do perfectionism, body image concerns, and intimacy predict genitopelvic pain in the postpartum? A prospective study of new mothers

BACKGROUND

Genitopelvic pain following childbirth is common and likely to challenge the psychological, relational, and sexual well-being of new mothers. While genitopelvic pain generally decreases during the postpartum period, personal and interpersonal characteristics may explain why genitopelvic pain persists beyond the period of physical recovery in some mothers. Body image concerns, increased stress, and relationship challenges would be particularly salient during pregnancy and the postpartum period, which could put new mothers at greater risk of sexual difficulties. Also, mothers may display a negative appraisal regarding genitopelvic pain and doubt their ability to cope with it, which may contribute to the pain.

AIM

The current study aimed to examine the role of perfectionism, body image concerns, and perceived intimacy in the occurrence and change in genitopelvic pain in new mothers in postpartum.

METHODS

A total of 211 new mothers and their partners were recruited for a larger prospective dyadic study on the transition to parenthood.

OUTCOMES

Mothers completed a single item assessing genitopelvic pain, in addition to brief validated questionnaires measuring perfectionism, body image concerns, and perceived couple intimacy during pregnancy and at 4, 8, and 12 months postpartum.

RESULTS

Five multilevel modeling analyses revealed that adaptive perfectionism, maladaptive perfectionism, and body image concerns were associated with a higher occurrence of genitopelvic pain from 4 to 12 months postpartum. Mothers' and partners' perceived intimacy was not significantly related to new mothers' genitopelvic pain. None of the predictors modified the trajectory of genitopelvic pain over time.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Raising awareness among health care professionals regarding the role of perfectionism and body image concerns in genitopelvic pain may help them identify new mothers at risk of chronic genitopelvic pain, while offering a new avenue of intervention.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

There has been little research examining the role of perfectionism, body image concerns, and intimacy in postpartum genitopelvic pain. Based on a longitudinal prospective approach, this study identified perfectionism and body image concerns as significant predictors of postpartum genitopelvic pain. However, prepregnancy genitopelvic pain, genitopelvic pain intensity, and sexual distress were not measured.

CONCLUSION

Adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism and body image concerns are associated with new mothers' genitopelvic pain up to 12 months postpartum.

Predictors of body image dissatisfaction among women at different stages of pregnancy:A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To explore the levels and predictors of body image dissatisfaction among women at different stages of pregnancy.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study design.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 863 Chinese pregnant women were recruited from a tertiary hospital via a convenience sampling method.

MEASUREMENT AND FINDINGS

Eligible participants completed a demographic questionnaire and self-reported measures of body image dissatisfaction, pregnancy-related anxiety, prenatal depression, and appearance comparison. Results showed no statistical difference in body image dissatisfaction levels among early-mid pregnancy (47.6 ± 6.17), late-mid pregnancy (47.3 ± 7.56), and late pregnancy stages (48.4 ± 6.22). The generalized linear model showed that gestational weight gain, pregnancy-related anxiety, own/family's perception of pregnancy weight, and current ideal weight change were predictors of body image dissatisfaction in the early-mid pregnancy stage. In addition, pre-pregnancy BMI, appearance comparison, own /family's perception of pregnancy weight, current ideal weight change, and overeating during pregnancy significantly predicted body image dissatisfaction in the late-mid pregnancy stage. Predictors of body image dissatisfaction in the late pregnancy stage comprised planned pregnancy, pre-pregnancy eating disorders, own perception of pregnancy weight, current ideal weight change, pregnancy-related anxiety, and prenatal depression.

KEY CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE

The findings suggest that predictors of body image dissatisfaction differed according to pregnancy stage. Self-perception of pregnancy weight was primary predictor of body image dissatisfaction. Healthcare professionals are recommended to provide prenatal health education to reduce own/family's negative perception of pregnancy weight, so as to alleviate the body image dissatisfaction level of pregnant women.

Becoming a father: a qualitative study on the journey to fatherhood

BACKGROUND

The transition to fatherhood represents one of the most significant changes in a man's life and brings many challenges. Despite the great importance of this period, empirical data on it are not abundant, with only a small amount of psychological research on fatherhood available in the Czech Republic; this topic is also rather marginalized abroad. This qualitative study aims to explore men's unique experiences with the process of becoming a father and to understand how paternal identity is shaped.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

Four men who had recently become fathers participated in the research. A semi-structured interview was conducted with each of them.

RESULTS

Using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, an in-depth analysis of the data identified five significant categories that emerge during the transition to fatherhood: responsibility and commitment to the child, father identity formation, fatherhood and motherhood, changes in the partner relationship and coping with the father role.

CONCLUSIONS

The research suggests that the process of becoming a father is a long-term dynamic process, in which father identity is shaped and consolidated through a variety of situations and experiences. Within this process, paternal identity is also shaped through repeated comparisons and definitions of the role of the mother. Process of becoming a father involves developmental, identity, personality, partnership and family aspects.

The Unique and Moderating Role of Social and Self-Evaluative Factors on Perinatal Eating Disorder and Depression Symptoms

Pregnancy and postpartum represent a critical transition period for changes in eating disorder (ED) symptoms and depression. Past research has established a relationship between ED and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. However, changes in depression and ED symptom across stages of pregnancy and postpartum, and factors that influence this relationship, remain understudied. Social factors and self-evaluative factors may be important given rapidly changing social pressures and expectations during this transitional time. The current study (N = 454 pregnant women) examined (1) differences in ED and depressive symptoms across pregnancy and postpartum and (2) whether social factors (social appearance anxiety; social support) and self-evaluative factors (maladaptive perfectionism; self-compassion) moderate the relationship between depression and ED symptoms cross-sectionally and prospectively. Study aims, hypotheses, and data analysis were preregistered on the Open Science Foundation (osf.io). This study did not identify differences in ED or depression symptoms across women at different stages of pregnancy; however, depression symptoms significantly improved within individuals from pregnancy to postpartum. ED symptoms and all social and self-evaluative factors were uniquely associated with depression during pregnancy. ED symptoms, maladaptive perfectionism, social appearance anxiety, and self-compassion during pregnancy significantly predicted postpartum depression, when accounting for prenatal depression. During pregnancy, but not postpartum, when social support and self-compassion were low, and when maladaptive perfectionism was high, there was a stronger relationship between ED and depression symptoms. ED symptoms and social and self-evaluative factors could be targeted in routine medical care and stepped-care interventions to improve maternal mental healthcare and prevent postpartum depression.

Effect of social media on body image of pregnant and postpartum women in India

In the present times, there is a high influence caused by social media platforms in case of body image issues faced by an individual. Pregnancy is a stage for women where they go through several mental and physical changes. Realizing the inseparable role played by social media in this aspect, it is an attempt here to determine the effect caused by social media on the body image of pregnant women as well for those in their post-partum stages. The PRISMA method is used by the authors to arrive at 55 research papers from the Scopus databases that are systematically reviewed. The authors' review reveals that social media can have both negative and positive effects on women's perception of body image during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Comparing body image dissatisfaction between pregnant women and non-pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Body image dissatisfaction refers to negative thoughts and feelings individuals have towards their own body appearance and this is thought to be affected by the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. There are two main conflicting theories as to the effect pregnancy has on body image dissatisfaction: 1) Pregnancy related changes are in direct conflict with social ideas of female beauty (e.g. weight gain) and so increase body image dissatisfaction; 2) Due to changes in expectations of bodily appearance during pregnancy, women are liberated from social ideals at this time and thus body image dissatisfaction would decrease. This study aimed to assess these theories by synthesising the current literature. Six databases were searched, and 2,017 study abstracts were screened based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following screening and quality assessment by two blind reviewers, 17 studies (comprising 17 effect sizes) were subject to full review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. These studies included cross-sectional, longitudinal and retrospective designs. Results varied with some studies showing women to feel more positive about their body during pregnancy, others showing a more negative body experience and yet others showing no statistical difference. Overall the analysis showed no statistical difference in body image dissatisfaction between pregnant women and non-pregnant women (p = 0.39). Any changes that do occur are heterogeneous and likely to be largely dependent on the individual experience as well as moderator variables and other factors such as differences in methodology of research studies. Studies in this field of research would benefit from more explicit and complete reporting of data and key variables, in order to allow early intervention for women who display body image dissatisfaction in pregnancy.

Pregorexia: a systematic review and meta-analysis on the constructs of body image dissatisfaction and eating disturbances by gestational age in the peripartum

PURPOSE

Pregorexia is a phenomenon posited to occur in the peripartum, characterized by an attempt to counter pregnancy's physiological changes in body shape through reduced calorie intake or increased physical activity.

METHODS

In this pre-registered systematic review and meta-analysis, body image dissatisfaction and eating psychopathology in the peripartum according to gestational age were formally assessed. PubMed was searched up to May 2023. Selection criteria were represented by studies on body image concerns or eating psychopathology in the peripartum (up to 1 year after delivery). The population needed to include women from the general population or among patients with a history of (or current) eating disorder. For the meta-analysis, 17 studies were included: 10 for body image dissatisfaction (2625 individuals overall), 7 for eating behaviors (2551 individuals overall). The interplay between body image and the following themes was examined in depth: the adoption of breastfeeding, peripartum depression, sociocultural influences on body image, sexual disturbances, experiencing or reporting an altered food intake.

RESULTS

Progressive dissatisfaction with body image during pregnancy by gestational age was observed, stably elevated for at least 12 months postpartum. Eating psychopathology was observed as elevated only at 12 months in the postpartum, but not during pregnancy.

DISCUSSION

The current work offers normative values of body image satisfaction and eating psychopathology in the peripartum by gestational age. The relevance of current results was discussed, in order to inform both current clinical practice and future public policies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I-Evidence obtained from: systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Preferred mode of delivery association with the body image and genital image in pregnant women - a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Pregnant women experience several changes in their appearance, body shape and body image. In some studies, there has been a relationship between these changes and the type of delivery. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of the prenatal body image and genital image with the mode of delivery preferred by pregnant women in Gorgan in 2020.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 334 pregnant women were selected by stratified sampling. The Prenatal Body Image Questionnaire (PBIQ), Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS), pregnant women's preferences for mode of delivery questionnaire (PPMDQ) and DASS-21 were completed on line. The data was analyzed using Spearman test and linear regression.

RESULTS

The average score of PBIQ, FGSIS, and PPMDQ was 68.24 (standard deviation = 17.71), 19.25 (standard deviation = 3.3), and 63.12 (standard deviation = 3.3) respectively. Vaginal delivery as a preferred mode of delivery was inversely correlated with dissatisfaction with body image (r=-0.32, P < 0.001), and directly correlated with satisfaction with the genital image (r = 0.19, P < 0.001). There was a significant inverse correlation between prenatal body image dissatisfaction and genital image satisfaction (r=-0.32, P < 0.001). While FGSIS score could not predict PPMDQ, PBIQ score could.

CONCLUSIONS

Satisfaction with the prenatal body image or genital image is associated with the choice of vaginal delivery. These results can be the basis for prenatal care and childbirth counselling.

Internalized Weight Bias, Weight-Related Experiences, And Peripartum Weight

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to investigate internalized weight bias (IWB) and its relationship with pregnancy-related weight changes and postpartum depression. IWB is defined as the internalization of negative attitudes and beliefs about people due to their weight. Although IWB has been linked with weight change and depression in other samples, it has never been investigated in the postpartum period.

METHODS

We used a cross-sectional survey design. Participants were 251 women recruited via social media who were living in the United States and 6 to 12 months postpartum. We calculated percentage of body weight gained during pregnancy and percentage of that weight that was retained postpartum from self-reported weights. Participants completed self-report measures of IWB (modified version of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale) and postpartum depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale).

RESULTS

Gestational weight gain was not significantly associated with IWB or depression. Postpartum retention of gestational weight was significantly positively associated with both IWB and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, IWB mediated the relationship between postpartum weight retention and depressive symptoms.

DISCUSSION

Postpartum retention of weight gained during pregnancy, but not weight gain itself, was related to both IWB and depressive symptoms. The relationship between pregnancy-related weight changes and psychological distress is complex. Sociocultural pressures to return to a prepregnancy physical state swiftly after giving birth may increase risk for IWB during a time in life when stress is already likely to be high, posing additional psychological risk. IWB existing prepregnancy may also worsen postpartum self-concept, contributing to depression. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to directly assess associations among gestational weight change, IWB, and postpartum depression. In addition to discussing weight in pregnancy, perinatal care providers could improve postpartum health by helping women set realistic, body-positive goals postpartum.

Self-objectification during the perinatal period: The role of body surveillance in maternal and infant wellbeing

Pregnancy represents a unique time during which women's bodies undergo significant physical changes (e.g., expanding belly, larger breasts, weight gain) that can elicit increased objectification. Experiences of objectification set the stage for women to view themselves as sexual objects (i.e., self-objectification) and is associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Although women may experience heightened self-objectification and behavioral consequences (such as body surveillance) due to the objectification of pregnant bodies in Western cultures, there are remarkably few studies examining objectification theory among women during the perinatal period. The present study investigated the impact of body surveillance, a consequence of self-objectification, on maternal mental health, mother-infant bonding, and infant socioemotional outcomes in a sample of 159 women navigating pregnancy and postpartum. Utilizing a serial mediation model, we found that mothers who endorsed higher levels of body surveillance during pregnancy reported more depressive symptoms and body dissatisfaction, which were associated with greater impairments in mother-infant bonding following childbirth and more infant socioemotional dysfunction at 1-year postpartum. Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms emerged as a unique mechanism through which body surveillance predicted bonding impairments and subsequent infant outcomes. Results highlight the critical need for early intervention efforts that not only target general depression, but also promote body functionality and acceptance over the Western "thin ideal" of attractiveness among expecting mothers.

Psychological Characteristics of Women with Perinatal Depression Who Require Psychiatric Support during Pregnancy or Postpartum: A Cross-Sectional Study

Antenatal depression may be distinct from postpartum depression in terms of prevalence, severity of symptoms, comorbidities, prognosis, and risk factors. Although risk factors for perinatal depression have been identified, it is unclear whether there are differences in the onset of perinatal depression (PND). This study explored the characteristics of women requiring mental health support during pregnancy or postpartum. A sample of 170 women (58% in pregnancy; 42% postpartum) who contacted the SOS-MAMMA outpatient clinic was recruited. Clinical data sheets and self-report questionnaires (EPDS, LTE-Q, BIG FIVE; ECR; BSQ; STICSA) were administered, hypothesizing possible risk factors, such as personality traits, stressful life events, body dissatisfaction, attachment style, and anxiety. Hierarchical regression models were carried out in the pregnancy (F_10;36 = 8.075, p < 0.001, adjR2 = 0.877) and postpartum groups (F_10;38 = 3.082, p < 0.05, adjR2 = 0.809). Recent stressful life events and conscientiousness were associated with depression in both the pregnant (29.3%, 25.5% of variance) and postpartum groups (23.8%, 20.7% of variance). In pregnant women, "openness" (11.6%), body dissatisfaction (10.2%), and anxiety (7.1%) symptoms were predictive of depression. In the postpartum group, "neuroticism" (13.8%) and insecure romantic attachment dimensions (13.4%; 9.2%) were the strongest predictors. Perinatal psychological interventions should consider the differences between mothers with depression during pregnancy and postpartum.

Exploring body dissatisfaction in pregnancy and the association with gestational weight gain, obesity, and weight stigma

OBJECTIVE

Body dissatisfaction in pregnancy has been associated with negative psychological maternal outcomes, including increased risk of postpartum depression. This study aimed to explore weight-related factors that influence body dissatisfaction in pregnancy, including gestational weight gain (GWG), weight stigma, obesity, and weight loss attempts before pregnancy.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of a larger cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Online survey administered via Qualtrics.

PARTICIPANTS

≥12 weeks pregnant, ≥18 years of age, having a singleton pregnancy and residing in Canada.

MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS

A battery of questionnaires were completed, including the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale (BIPS) sub-scale. The BIPS scores were compared based on experiences of weight stigma in pregnancy, perception towards their GWG, weight loss attempts before pregnancy, obesity, and GWG category classified as excessive or not referring to Institute of Medicine (2009) guidelines. Significant differences were entered into a linear regression model with BIPS scores as the dependent variable. Significance was accepted as p<0.05. A total of 182 participants completed the survey. There were no differences in BIPS scores based on GWG category (p = 0.160), or obesity (p = 0.230). Poorer BIPS scores were reported by those who felt they had gained 'too much' pregnancy weight than 'appropriate' (p<0.001), and among those who were trying to lose weight before pregnancy compared to those who were not (p = 0.002). Poorer BIPS scores were also reported by individuals who indicated they had experienced weight stigma during pregnancy compared to those who had not (p<0.001). Regression results showed that significant variables were perceptions towards GWG (p = 0.003) and experiencing weight stigma in pregnancy (p = 0.011).

KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Perceptions towards GWG and experiencing weight stigma can influence body dissatisfaction in pregnancy. Given the detrimental physical and psychological consequences of body dissatisfaction, effective strategies to reduce prenatal weight stigma are needed, such as training maternal healthcare providers to offer sensitive preconception and prenatal weight counselling.

Self-objectification during the perinatal period: The role of body surveillance in maternal and infant wellbeing

Pregnancy represents a unique time during which women's bodies undergo significant physical changes (e.g., expanding belly, larger breasts, weight gain) that can elicit increased objectification. Experiences of objectification set the stage for women to view themselves as sexual objects (i.e., self-objectification) and is associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Although women may experience heightened self-objectification and behavioral consequences (such as body surveillance) due to the objectification of pregnant bodies in Western cultures, there are remarkably few studies examining objectification theory among women during the perinatal period. The present study investigated the impact of body surveillance, a consequence of self-objectification, on maternal mental health, mother-infant bonding, and infant socioemotional outcomes in a sample of 159 women navigating pregnancy and postpartum. Utilizing a serial mediation model, we found that mothers who endorsed higher levels of body surveillance during pregnancy reported more depressive symptoms and body dissatisfaction, which were associated with greater impairments in mother-infant bonding following childbirth and more infant socioemotional dysfunction at 1-year postpartum. Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms emerged as a unique mechanism through which body surveillance predicted bonding impairments and subsequent infant outcomes. Results highlight the critical need for early intervention efforts that not only target general depression, but also promote body functionality and acceptance over the Western "thin ideal" of attractiveness among expecting mothers.

Does the postpartum body image of primiparous women giving vaginal delivery affect their sexual functions and depression and fatigue levels?

The body image-related problems can negatively affect women's lives in many ways. The study was aimed at investigating the effects of postpartum body image on sexual functions, and fatigue and depression levels of primiparous women who gave birth vaginally. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 133 women who presented to the obstetrics and gynecology clinics of a state hospital in Turkey between June 2021 and December 2021. At the end of the study, a moderate relationship was determined between the women's body image and their depression (r = 0.500; p < 0.001) and fatigue (r = 0.666; p < 0.001) levels, and a weak relationship between their body image and sexual functions (r = -0.372; p < 0.001). According to the backward regression model used in the study, the women's fatigue and education levels accounted for their body image by 45.7%.

How prepartum appearance-related attitudes influence body image and weight-control behaviors of pregnant Japanese women across pregnancy: Latent growth curve modeling analyses

A thin female physique is idealized in modernized societies, leading many pregnant women to experience body dissatisfaction and avoid weight gain, as pregnancy directs their body away from the sociocultural ideal of thinness. However, not all pregnant women report body dissatisfaction and/or weight-control behavior. We aimed to discern how prepartum weight-related attitudes-thin-ideal internalization, drive for thinness, and appearance comparison tendency-influence changes in negative attitudes toward a pregnant body, body image, and weight-control behavior across pregnancy. Data were longitudinally collected from 208 Japanese pregnant women (Mage = 27.0, SD = 1.74) across three pregnancy periods. Results indicated that overall, negative attitudes toward appearance change during pregnancy, weight-control behaviors, and restrained eating significantly changed across pregnancy. Moreover, those with higher prepartum thin-ideal internalization showed greater decreases in negative attitudes toward appearance change during pregnancy and greater increases in body dissatisfaction, whereas those with higher prepartum drive for thinness and appearance comparison tendency showed greater decreases in restrained eating across pregnancy. Our findings suggest that pregnant women with certain prepartum weight-related attitudes may experience an aggravation of body dissatisfaction while following dietary regimen during pregnancy. Thus, prevention programs may selectively help them reduce their negative body image during pregnancy.

Body Image Assessment Tools in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review

Pregnancy is a remarkable time and generates several changes in women in a short period. Body image is understood as the mental representation of the body itself, and, although bodily changes are considered healthy, they can impact pregnant women's body image. Problems related to body image during pregnancy can affect the health of the mother and fetus; thus, it is essential for health professionals to detect potential disorders as soon as possible. The objective of this systematic review was to identify instruments for assessing body image in pregnant women, highlighting their main characteristics. To this end, we applied the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses to searches in the EMBASE, PubMed, and American Psychological Association databases from 5 January to 10 August 2021. We included studies on adult pregnant women without comorbidities in the validation and adaptation of (sub)scales that analyze components of body image. We excluded studies that considered nonpregnant, adolescent, postpartum, and/or clinical populations, as well as smoking/drug use studies that were not validation studies or did not assess any aspect of body image. We investigated the quality of the studies using the Quality Assessment Tool for Studies with Diverse Designs. In all, we examined 13 studies. The results point to a growing concern over body image during pregnancy, as there has been an increase in the number of validation and adaptation studies involving scales for different cultures that scrutinize different constructs. The findings suggest that the listed instruments be used in future research.

Self-compassion and body image in pregnancy and postpartum: A randomized pilot trial of a brief self-compassion meditation intervention

The current study evaluated the efficacy of a three-week self-compassion (SC) meditation intervention in improving body image and SC during pregnancy and postpartum. Participants (n = 71; age = 31.92 ± 3.98 years; white = 61, 85.9%; intervention = 35, 49.3%; pregnant = 33, 46.5%; postpartum = 38, 53.5%) were recruited from a health coaching program and 35 were randomly assigned into a three-week SC meditation intervention while 36 were randomly assigned to a waitlist control condition. Linear regressions using full-information maximum likelihood estimation examined the effect of intervention group on body image and SC outcomes controlling for baseline level of outcome, pregnancy or postpartum status, previous meditation experience, and physical activity. Results indicated women in the intervention group reported significantly reduced body shame and body dissatisfaction and improved body appreciation and self-compassion compared to women in the control group. Implementation of a brief SC meditation intervention during pregnancy and postpartum has potential to improve mental health outcomes related to body image. Future work should replicate this study with a larger, more diverse sample of women.

Body image and depression in endometriosis: Examining self-esteem and rumination as mediators

Endometriosis is a chronic systemic disease affecting 1 in 10 people assigned female at birth, that can result in appearance-based and functional bodily changes which can negatively impact body image. Empirical evidence supports the body dissatisfaction-driven hypothesis that negative body image leads to greater depressive symptoms; but potential underlying mechanisms are under-researched. This prospective study investigated the mediating role of two theoretically-derived intervening factors, self-esteem and rumination, in individuals living with endometriosis who typically report high rates of body image concerns and depressive symptoms. Initially, 996 participants completed the first online survey (T0) assessing demographic, medical and psychological factors. Of these, 451 completed surveys at 1-month (T1) and 2-months (T2) follow-up assessing self-esteem, rumination and depression. Bootstrapped analyses with full-information maximum likelihood estimation indicated that poor body image (T0) predicted greater depressive symptoms over time (T2). Self-esteem (T1), but not rumination (T1), mediated the body image-depression relationship. These results provide support for the body dissatisfaction-driven hypothesis and further identify that self-esteem is a key meditating factor. This highlights the importance of addressing self-esteem in body image focused interventions.

#Fitmom: an experimental investigation of the effect of social media on body dissatisfaction and eating and physical activity intentions, attitudes, and behaviours among postpartum mothers

Background

Research has shown that body dissatisfaction is higher during the postpartum period compared to other periods of life, and strongly associated with disordered eating behaviours, which can lead to adverse health outcomes. While results from cross-sectional studies suggest that social media may play an important role in body dissatisfaction among postpartum mothers, causal inference is limited due to the observational nature of the existing research. The objective of this study is to experimentally test the effect of body-focused social media on the body dissatisfaction and eating and physical activity intentions, attitudes, and behaviours of postpartum mothers.

Methods

Postpartum mothers of infants 0–6 months (n = 132) were randomly assigned to view either body-focused social media posts (n = 65), or a control set of infant feeding tips (n = 67). ANCOVA was used to examine differences between the intervention and control group on levels of body dissatisfaction, eating and physical activity intentions, attitudes, and behaviours. There were two follow-up time points, immediately post intervention and 1-month post intervention to measure potential sustained effects of intervention.

Results

Exposure to body-focused social media posts resulted in higher levels of body dissatisfaction, mean difference 1.54 (p = 0.002); poorer body image, mean difference 0.41 (p = 0.007); eating attitudes, mean difference 2.26 (p = 0.025); and higher levels of restrained eating behaviours, mean difference 0.39 (p < 0.001) among the intervention group post intervention. Mothers in the intervention group also reported higher levels of inspiration to be active, mean difference 0.48 (p = 0.021) post intervention. A sustained effect was found for restrained eating, mean difference 2.03 (p < 0.001) and poorer eating attitude, mean difference 0.29 (p = 0.001) at 1-month follow-up. No sustained effects were found for any other outcomes at 1-month follow-up.

Conclusion

Social media exposure to body-focused social media posts negatively affect postpartum mothers’ body dissatisfaction and health behaviours. Further experimental research that includes an interactive social media component is needed among this population.

Trial Registration:

NCT05181280, Study ID Number: 054798. Registered 06/01/2022. Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05181280.

"Belly Only Pregnancy" content on social media and in internet blogs: a qualitative analysis on its definition and potential risks and benefits

PURPOSE

Social media enlarge the impact of health and fitness trends on body image and lifestyle choices, also in birthing parents. A new and yet to investigate social media trend addressing expectant mothers is "Belly Only Pregnancy". This qualitative study sought to define this new trend and clarify whether content related to this trend might disrupt body image or eating habits in expectant mothers.

METHODS

Picture and text data were gathered on a key day by screening Instagram and blog posts including or linking #bellyonlypregnancy. The identified data were categorized applying qualitative content analysis using MAXQDA software version 2018.

RESULTS

Three hundred and fifty-one Instagram and eight blog posts were included. Our qualitative analysis' results indicated that the term "Belly Only Pregnancy" was used for describing: (1) The phenotype of an athletic woman whose abdominal size enlarges during pregnancy while not gaining excessive fat tissue. (2) An active lifestyle during pregnancy consisting of healthy nutrition and regular exercise pursuing goals like fast weight loss post-partum. Also, bodily, and mental gestational changes and the feasibility of this lifestyle were discussed.

CONCLUSION

A "Belly Only Pregnancy" allegorizes an ideal body type for expecting mothers. Especially women with increased vulnerability for an eating disorder might be negatively affected by the consumption of content linked to this trend. However, the positive effects of a healthy diet and exercise should not be denied keeping into account the increasing prevalence of obesity and gestational diabetes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III: Evidence obtained from cohort or case-control analytic studies.

Interoceptive sensibility and body satisfaction in pregnant and non-pregnant women with and without children

Pregnancy is a time of great physical and psychological change. As well as prominent changes in the external appearance of the body, such as the baby bump, there are also substantial changes taking place within the body. Our awareness of, and attention towards, internal bodily signals (interoception) is thought to have a direct impact on how we feel about our bodies. Therefore, understanding how our experience of these interoceptive signals might change during pregnancy may have important implications for maternal wellbeing. This study examined body satisfaction and interoceptive sensibility (subjective experience of interoception) in pregnant and non-pregnant women with and without children. Feelings towards pregnancy-specific changes in body satisfaction and interoceptive sensibility were also examined in women in their first pregnancy (primigravida) and subsequent pregnancies (multigravida). It was found that pregnancy did not directly impact levels of body satisfaction, instead pregnant and non-pregnant women with children reported less satisfaction with their bodies compared to those without children. Primigravida women were more satisfied with the appearance of pregnancy specific bodily changes compared to multigravida women. Interestingly, these differences in body satisfaction in those with children (pregnant and non-pregnant) were mediated by the extent to which women trusted their bodies (measure of interoceptive sensibility). All other pregnancy related changes in interoceptive sensibility and body satisfaction were either non-significant or had small effect sizes. These results may suggest body trust as an important factor to support during the transition to parenthood in order to improve body satisfaction in mothers.

Course and prediction of body image dissatisfaction during pregnancy: a prospective study

Background

During pregnancy, women`s bodies undergo rapid changes in body weight and body size within a relatively short period of time. Pregnancy may therefore be associated with an increased vulnerability for the development of body image dissatisfaction that has been linked to adverse health outcomes for mother and child. The present study aims to examine changes in body image during pregnancy as well as predictors of body image dissatisfaction. This is the first study using a tailored, multidimensional measure of body image especially developed for the pregnant population.

Methods

A prospective longitudinal design with a quantitative approach was applied. Healthy pregnant women (N = 222) were assessed using standardized instruments at two time points (T1: 18th-22th week of gestation, T2: 33th-37th week of gestation). The impact of demographic, weight- and health-related, behavioral, and psychological factors assessed at T1 on body image dissatisfaction at T1 and T2 was examined using stepwise linear regression analyses.

Results

T-tests for paired samples revealed that dissatisfaction with strength-related aspects of body image, dissatisfaction with body parts, and concerns about sexual attractiveness increased significantly from the middle to the end of pregnancy. In contrast, preoccupation with appearance, dissatisfaction with complexion, and prioritization of appearance over function were significantly reduced over time. Stepwise linear regression analyses revealed that factors influencing body image depend on the component of body image investigated. Overall, a low level of self-esteem and a high level of pregnancy-specific worries were risk factors for several components of body image dissatisfaction. Besides these, poor sleep quality, low levels of physical activity, disturbed eating behavior, and higher levels of BMI and weight gain were significant predictors.

Conclusions

The results highlight the multidimensional nature of body image and show positive as well as negative changes during pregnancy. Overall, modifiable psychological, behavioral, and weight-related factors appear relevant to the extent of body image dissatisfaction.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-05050-x.

Body image dissatisfaction and interoceptive sensibility significantly predict postpartum depressive symptoms

BACKGROUND

During pregnancy women experience rapid and unique changes in body weight, shape and size over a relatively short time period. While research focused on the role of external bodily modifications during pregnancy, research on internal bodily variations is missing.

METHODS

In a longitudinal study, we recruited healthy pregnant women and measured whether and how depressive symptoms, body image dissatisfaction and the subjective tendency to focus on one's own internal bodily sensations, i.e., interoceptive sensibility, changed during pregnancy and postpartum. Pregnant women filled online self-report questionnaires during pregnancy (i.e. second and third trimester) and after (i.e. six weeks) the delivery, including the Body Areas Satisfaction Scale, the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

RESULTS

While depressive symptoms remained stable in the peripartum, body image dissatisfaction increased in the postpartum compared to the pregnancy period, and interoceptive sensibility increased over pregnancy. Findings showed that the increase of body dissatisfaction through the peripartum and the levels of interoceptive sensibility in the early phase of pregnancy predicted depressive symptoms in the postpartum.

LIMITATIONS

Interoception was evaluated as a subjective measure (i.e., interoceptive sensibility). Future studies may include objective measures of interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive awareness.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study supports the importance of body image dissatisfaction and interoceptive sensibility in the development of postpartum depressive symptoms. Future studies need to investigate if interventions aimed to increase interoceptive sensibility might be useful in preventing depressive symptoms and identify the mechanisms that can lead to these changes.

Body Image Dissatisfaction as a Risk Factor for Postpartum Depression

Background and Objectives: Pregnancy and postpartum are periods that imply numerous physical and psychological changes that could lead to mental health consequences. The aim of the present study is to identify whether women who had body image dissatisfaction had a higher incidence of postpartum depression 6 months after birth than women who did not have body image dissatisfaction. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed with a sample of 450 women from two hospitals in Andalusia. Quantitative variables were age and scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) for body image dissatisfaction. The qualitative variables used were marital status, self-perceived health status, diet or physical exercise, type of delivery, and others. Results: Body dissatisfaction was positively correlated with the symptomatology of postpartum depression. Thus, for each point increased in body dissatisfaction, the occurrence of depression also increased. There was a relationship between the study variables, so women who were more dissatisfied with their body image were more frequently depressed. Conclusions: In conclusion, it can be established that postpartum depression seems to be related to the presence of poor body image.

Do Changes in Body Shape Due to Pregnancy Lead to Cosmetic Surgery? A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

Pregnants and puerperas show different perceptions of their body image and appearance, so authors investigated their perceptions related to pregnancy and puerperium, evaluating their views on cosmetic surgery, by a cross-sectional study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

5-item questionnaires were administrated to women at first pregnancy and puerperas. Patients were submitted also to Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Body Image Inventory (BII) analysis, indicating the level of anxiety, depression and body dissatisfaction for somatic changes during pregnancy and after childbirth.

RESULTS

186 healthy women, aged between 25-35 years, equally divided in pregnancy and puerperium, were compared in terms of body image, with no significant difference between groups. Analyzing the item "cosmetic surgery is required after all pregnancies", there was a significant difference in puerperas and the item "cosmetic surgery is necessary for postpartum" was the principal. The comparison of BII, BDI, BAI values between pregnants and puerperas showed a significant difference between groups (p<0.00), with higher scores in postpartum patients.

CONCLUSION

Body shape and physical dissatisfaction during pregnancy is linked with increased risk of depression in pregnancy and puerperium, pushing women to opt for cosmetic surgery, especially in puerperium.

Relationship of Self-Esteem With Body Image and Attitudes Toward Motherhood and Pregnancy

The current study aimed to determine the relationship of self-esteem with attitudes toward motherhood and pregnancy and body image in Iranian pregnant women. This cross-sectional study included 228 women from Tabriz, Iran. A cluster random sampling method was used. Instruments were the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Scale of Attitudes Toward Motherhood and Pregnancy, and Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. To determine the correlation of self-esteem with attitudes toward motherhood and body image, Pearson correlation test was used in bivariate analysis, and the general linear model (GLM) with adjustment of potential confounders was used in multivariate analysis. There was a direct correlation between self-esteem and body image (r = 0.63) and attitudes toward motherhood (r = 0.45). Results of the GLM showed a significant improvement in attitudes toward motherhood (p < 0.001) and body image (p < 0.001) as self-esteem increased. Based on these results, mental health counseling is recommended to promote pregnant women's self-esteem. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x), xx-xx.].

Body Appreciation, Depressive Symptoms, and Self-Esteem in Pregnant and Postpartum Brazilian Women

Background

During pregnancy and the postpartum period, women experience tremendous biopsychosocial changes in a short period of time. Poor body appreciation, depressive symptoms, and low self-esteem during the perinatal period may cause negative consequences for both the mother and the infant's physiological and psychological health. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in body appreciation, depressive symptoms, and self-esteem between the three gestational trimesters and the postpartum period.

Methods

Participants (N = 1,423 pregnant and postpartum Brazilian women), aged between 18 and 42 years old (M = 29.22; SD = ±5.72), answered questionnaires on body appreciation, depressive symptoms, and self-esteem. BMI was self-reported. Descriptive and nonparametric covariance analysis were performed, comparing women who were in the first, second, and third trimesters and the postpartum period.

Results

Body appreciation was significantly higher among women in the third trimester compared to those in the first and second trimester. However, it was lower for women in all three gestational trimesters than for those in the postpartum. There was no difference in self-esteem during pregnancy, but it was significantly lower in the postpartum group. Similarly, depressive symptoms did not vary through pregnant groups but it was significantly higher in the postpartum group.

Conclusions

The results showed that the postpartum period can be a difficult experience for women. They presented poor body appreciation and lower self-esteem and higher depressive symptoms compared to the pregnancy period. Therefore, it is necessary for public health policies to support women in this period, preserving their mental health and making this experience more positive.

'I wish I had my pre-pregnancy body after birth… but I have to be supported': a theoretical study based on body image perception in working mothers during the postpartum period

The body image of women in the postpartum period can be far from society's idealised body, and this can cause body dissatisfaction. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate the body image perception of women who had started working in the postpartum period, based on the grounded theory research method. A total of 22 face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants who were actively involved in working life and between 3 months and 1 year postpartum. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with a personal information form and semi-structured interview form. Coding created four main categories ('weight fluctuations and body shape', 'body-related perception', 'body-related responses from the environment' and 'body perception improvement process') and eight sub-categories. The results found that the postpartum period is a sensitive one for working women, where they have both positive and negative experiences. Their responsibilities increase, they have little time for themselves and their bodies, they experience body image dissatisfaction, and they expect support from their spouses, families, social circles and health professionals.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Postpartum body image is an important research subject because it expands the scope of body image literature and has significant effects on gender problems. Not being able to lose the weight gained in postpartum period or the weight gained during pregnancy is an important problem for women. With women starting working life, this period seems to be a more sensitive and anxious one for some women.What do the results of this study add? Most of the women in this study experience body dissatisfaction in the postpartum period. Some women do not want to leave the house because of their negative body image perceptions. It is an important finding that women want their spouse to gain weight during this period.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The findings of our study revealed that working mothers in the postpartum period have difficulty in sparing time for themselves and their bodies due to increased responsibilities. Working women are in particular need for more support due to their increased workloads, roles and responsibilities in childcare. Our study may guide future studies focussing on women's body image perceptions and influencing factors.

Body dissatisfaction of women during postpartum period and copin strategies

This descriptive, cross-sectional study examined body dissatisfaction and coping strategies of postpartum women. Women (n = 256) registered at a family health center in Turkey responded to a Participant Information Form and the Body Cathexis Scale between September 1 and December 31, 2020. The data were evaluated using the analyses of percentage, number, mean, standard deviation, Kruskal Wallis test, Mann Whitney U, Pearson correlation analysis, and Bonferroni tests. Women's dissatisfaction related to body image perception were associated with loss of physical strength, weight gain, hair loss, insomnia, change of breast shape, waist/back pain, facial spots, shape change in genitals, decrease in sexual activity and sexual desire, cellulite in the legs, and constipation. Regarding coping strategies, 8.4% women rested during the day to cope with the decrease in physical strength/fatigue they experienced, 44.5% followed a diet to cope with weight gain, 14% used shampoos and creams to cope with hair loss, 25.2% rested during the day to cope with insomnia, 36.8% wore a compression bra for their breasts, 12.4% exercised for waist/back pain. Findings indicate that postpartum women's average Body Cathexis Scale total score was low and that they experienced several issues regarding body image perception during this period.

Ambivalence and moral dilemmas in women's lived experiences of obesity and pregnancy: Qualitative insights for maternal lifestyle interventions

BACKGROUND

Maternal obesity is a global health concern that is associated with significant effects on both short- and long-term health of both mother and child. However, maternal lifestyle interventions tend to focus solely on diet and physical activity in ways that disembody and disengage the social context in which women live their lives.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of maternal obesity and delve into how experiences of the body and motherhood affect women's motivation for participating in a postpartum lifestyle intervention.

METHOD

A qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews based on participant-generated photographs was used to allow the women to openly express their lived experiences of maternal obesity. The study emanated from a gynaecological department of a major Danish hospital, and five pregnant or postpartum women living with obesity participated. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using an Interpretive Phenomenological Approach.

RESULTS

The analysis identified an overall theme of ambivalence and four subthemes among the participating women. The themes reflected contrasting feelings where the obese body was simultaneously an arena for aesthetic failure, functional success and moral dilemmas. Experiences of weight stigma and moral accusations in healthcare settings further increased the women's sense of ambivalence and challenged their strong desire to lose weight.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights an ambivalent and vulnerable situation of maternal obesity which makes moral sensitivity towards weight and body concerns crucial to consider in future maternal health interventions. Our data suggest that an emphasis on functionality and capability rather than aesthetics and measured ideals would be useful in providing care and support in postpartum lifestyle interventions for women living with obesity.

Body Image During Pregnancy in the Era of Coronavirus Disease 2019: The Role of Heterogeneous Patterns of Perceived Social Support

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the profiles of pregnant women on perceived social support with regard to sociodemographic variables, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related distress issues, and body image. We compared the aforementioned relationships within the study variables between pregnant women and a control group of non-pregnant women. Method: The study sample comprised 345 women, 157 pregnant women, and 188 women in the control group. Participants filled out paper-and-pencil or online psychometric questionnaires to assess the variables analyzed in our research. Results: Latent profile analysis revealed six profiles of pregnant women based on perceived social support, which varied in terms of body image evaluation. The high-support profile differed from the profiles with the lowest scores in all support domains. Significant differences in body image between the profiles of pregnant women and the control group were noted. Conclusion: Understanding the mechanisms through which women can attain more body satisfaction during pregnancy is an important research topic that can inspire planning for more effective psychological help, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and related psychological distress.

Breastfeeding, body image, and weight control behavior among postpartum women

The goal of this study was to examine breastfeeding behavior and attitudes as predictors of women's body image and weight control behavior. This study extends past research by focusing on positive body image variables including body appreciation and perceived body functionality. Women (N = 597) from the United States who had recently birthed biological babies ages 0-12 months participated in an online study. Current breastfeeding rates were high (86 %), and average breastfeeding duration was approximately 3 months. Women who were currently breastfeeding indicated more positive body images and less likelihood of engaging in maladaptive weight control behaviors than women who were no longer breastfeeding or had never breastfed their baby. Women's positive attitudes toward breastfeeding were associated with awareness and appreciation of body functionality and fewer maladaptive weight control behaviors. These findings extend research on the health benefits of positive body image and suggest that breastfeeding may occur within a constellation of beliefs and behaviors indicative of positive body image.

A psychosocial examination of feelings and thoughts about pregnancy: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

during pregnancy, which is a developmental period, there are risks that may cause pathological changes when physical, mental and social adaptation is not achieved. During antenatal appointments, it is possible to provide necessary care for pregnant women at the right time by screening for risks that threaten health. In addition to physical risk factors, psychosocial risk factors that can have significant effects on the health of pregnant women should also be included in antenatal appointments. A woman's inability to meet her needs or difficulties encountered in psychosocial areas, such as mental health, family relations, social life and job status during pregnancy, may result in mental and social problems as well as physical problems. Insufficient social support, job loss and family communication problems can leave pregnant women vulnerable to stress and cause many pregnancy complications, such as preterm labor. When problems in these areas cannot be detected at an early stage, they can threaten the life of the woman and the fetus. As such, knowledge of the specific feelings and thoughts of pregnant women from a psychosocial perspective will be useful in the evaluation of psychosocial risk factors.

PURPOSE

to determine the feelings and thoughts of pregnant women from a psychosocial perspective.

METHOD

this study used a qualitative descriptive approach to investigate pregnancy-related feelings and thoughts in a sample of 23 healthy pregnant women. Data were collected using a personal information form and a semi-structured interview form. The interviews, which were conducted using the semi-structured interview form and individual in-depth interviews, were recorded on a voice recorder. A thematic approach was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

according to the results, the mean age of the pregnant women was 30.39 (standard deviation 4.03) years, 73.9% were university graduates and 78.3% were multiparous. Three main themes ('Pregnancy perception', 'Emotions in pregnancy' and 'Psychosocial dimension of pregnancy') and eight subthemes emerged from the data analysis. For 'Pregnancy perception', the subtheme was 'Meaning of pregnancy'. For 'Emotions in pregnancy', the subthemes were 'Emotional status (mood) in pregnancy' and 'Fear in pregnancy'. For 'Psychosocial dimension of pregnancy', the subthemes were 'Reflections of pregnancy on social life', 'Reflections of pregnancy on body image', 'Reflections of pregnancy on sexual life', 'Reflections of pregnancy on marital relationship' and 'Reflections of pregnancy on working life'.

CONCLUSIONS

in order to protect and maintain the health of the mother and fetus during pregnancy, it is recommended that women should be provided with the best physical and psychosocial care within the context of social and cultural structure, not only in this period but in every stage of their lives.

The Body Confident Mums challenge: a feasibility trial and qualitative evaluation of a body acceptance program delivered to mothers using Facebook

Background

Motherhood is a time of intense physical, psychological, and identity transformation, and body dissatisfaction may emerge through the process of pregnancy, birth, and adaptation to parenting. We present a feasibility trial of the Body Confident Mums Challenge, a program developed by adapting existing, effective interventions that focus on self-compassion and appreciation of body functionality to be specific to mothers.

Methods

The program was delivered using the social learning function in a closed Facebook group. Qualitative evaluation of evidence of change was conducted by gathering individual written reflections posted during the challenge (n = 120). Feasibility and acceptability was determined using a feedback survey (n = 22).

Results

Participant’s reflective posts indicated that they were embracing self-compassion, and de-prioritising body image concerns during the challenge. Feedback indicated that the program was mostly feasible and acceptable for mothers, with recommendations from some participants relating to slowing the pace of content delivery and reducing the time commitment of the Challenge.

Conclusions

The social media environment may therefore be a useful setting in which to implement brief intervention programs to improve body image and wellbeing.

Religiosity/Spirituality and Mental Health and Quality of Life of Early Pregnant Women

The present study aims to investigate how religious/spiritual (R/S) beliefs are associated with depressive, anxious and stress symptoms and quality of life (QOL) of 160 Brazilian women in early pregnancy. In this cross-sectional study, religiosity/spirituality (DUREL, Daily Spiritual Experiences, Brief-RCOPE), mental health (DASS-21) and quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref) were assessed. Negative R/S coping was associated with higher levels of depressive, anxious and stress symptoms and worse physical and psychological QOL. On the other hand, positive R/S coping, intrinsic religiosity, and spirituality were associated with better psychological QOL, while only spirituality was associated with better social QOL.

Body image profiles and exercise behaviours in early motherhood. A latent profile analysis

Early motherhood may impact body image, and its relationship to exercise, potentially affecting mother and infant wellbeing. This study examined whether duration of weekly exercise differed according to body image profile (BIP) based on relative levels of body dissatisfaction and body appreciation. Survey data from 262 women, 0-5 years postpartum, were analysed. Latent profile analysis identified "average", "dissatisfied" and "appreciative" BIPs. Significantly lower exercise was found in the dissatisfied compared to the appreciative BIP (p = 0.005), with marginally lower exercise in the dissatisfied compared to the average BIP (p = 0.029 with adjusted α = 0.02). This research has implications for designing targeted interventions supporting postpartum wellbeing.

Social media use and postpartum body image dissatisfaction: The role of appearance-related social comparisons and thin-ideal internalization

OBJECTIVES

For many women, the postpartum period is a particularly vulnerable time to experience body image dissatisfaction. We aimed to examine the impact of social media usage frequency in the context of postpartum body image dissatisfaction and eating disorder psychopathology. We therefore empirically tested a hypothetical model assuming that social media usage influences postpartum body image dissatisfaction and eating disorder psychopathology via multiple mediation through appearance-related social comparisons and thin ideal internalization.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional online-survey.

SETTING

Online forums, social media groups, community groups PARTICIPANTS: Two-hundred-fifty-two new mothers who had given birth within the last 26 weeks prior to the assessment.

MEASUREMENTS

Social media use was assessed by the average frequency of using Facebook, Instagram, Youtube or other per week. Body image dissatisfaction was assessed with the Body Shape Questionnaire and eating disorder psychopathology with the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. Path analyses using SPSS Amos were conducted to examine whether the hypothetical model fitted our data.

RESULTS

After minor modification, the final model revealed a good fit to the data, CFI = .977, TLI = .964, SRMR = .061, RMSEA = .056 (90%CI .027, .084), and as expected the indirect multiple mediation pathway via appearance-related social comparisons and thin ideal idealization was significant, IE = 4.395; 95%BCaCI 2.969, 7.394; p = .001. The number of target groups for appearance-related social comparisons did not moderate the results.

KEY CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide first evidence that social media use may play an important role in postpartum body dissatisfaction and eating disorder psychopathology. Mediational pathways proposed by socio-cultural theories of body image also hold for the postpartum period.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Practitioners in the field should be aware of the association between social media use and body image dissatisfaction and mediating factors among new mothers and sensitive when directing new mothers to those media.

Self-weighing among young adults: who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood? A cross-sectional study of a population-based sample

BACKGROUND

Self-weighing is widespread among young adults and is sometimes recommended by healthcare providers for weight management. The present study aims to deepen our understanding of who is frequently self-weighing among young adults, and to examine for whom self-weighing impacts mood based on weighing frequency and other eating and weight-related characteristics.

METHODS

Survey data were collected from a large population-based sample of young adults (31.1 ± 1.6y) participating in Project EAT-IV (n = 1719). Cross-sectional data were stratified across sex and analyzed with chi-square, t-tests, and linear and logistic regressions controlling for age, ethnicity/race, education level, and income.

RESULTS

Self-weighing frequency was higher among male and female young adults with a current eating disorder, those trying to lose weight or who endorsed any disordered eating behaviors or cognition, and females with higher BMI. Young adult females were significantly more likely than males to report that self-weighing impacted their mood (53% vs 27%, p < 0.05). Among both male and female young adults, there was a higher probability of participants reporting that self-weighing impacted their mood among those who were self-weighing more frequently, had higher BMI, were trying to lose weight, and endorsed disordered eating behaviors or cognitions.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that for many young adults, particularly females and those with weight-related concerns, self-weighing is a behavior that comes with emotional valence. The emotional consequences of self-weighing should be considered when making public health and clinical recommendations regarding the usefulness of self-weighing.

Body functionality: A review of the literature

Body functionality describes everything that the body is able to do, across diverse domains (e.g., bodily senses, creative endeavours). Nearly a decade ago, leading scholars identified research on body functionality as a priority for the body image field. The field has responded, as shown by the recent rise of body functionality research. We considered this an opportune time to (a) define body functionality (what it is and is not); (b) present theoretical frameworks of body functionality; (c) articulate first-generation and current measures relating to body functionality; (d) offer functionality-focused body image interventions that can improve appreciation for one's body functionality (and body image more broadly); (e) summarise additional areas of research related to body functionality and positive body image; and (f) provide considerations and directions for future research and interventions incorporating body functionality. Research has underscored body functionality as a valuable construct with respect to positive body image and well-being, particularly when individuals appreciate what their bodies can do and conceptualise their body functionality holistically. Yet, the experience of body functionality is nuanced across social identities. Overall, the field has greatly advanced knowledge about body functionality, and we are excited to see the next generation of research that emerges.

Predictors of mothers' postpartum body dissatisfaction based on demographic and fertility factors

Background

There are fundamental and rapid changes in body shape during pregnancy, some of which persist for an extended time after delivery and may cause dissatisfaction with body shape. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine predictors of body dissatisfaction at six months postpartum based on demographic and fertility factors.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 women who referred to seven health centers affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The sampling was multistage and we collected data from a demographic and fertility questionnaire and Cooper’s Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-34). The independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results

The mean age of participating women was 29.77 (standard deviation: 5.9) years. Body dissatisfaction had a statistically significant association with variables such as body mass index (BMI) at six months postpartum, gestational age, the receipt of information about body shape, spouse’s views on the shape of a woman’s body, and mode of delivery. These variables predicted 34% of body dissatisfaction based on multiple linear regression.

Conclusion

Postpartum body dissatisfaction is related to a several variables. Paying attention to these variables will help to plan and improve postpartum counseling and educational programs.

Mothers' experiences of the relationship between body image and exercise, 0-5 years postpartum: A qualitative study

The relationship between body image and exercise in early motherhood is an important yet understudied determinant of mother and infant wellbeing. To address this, we report on a qualitative study of early mothers' lived experiences of the relationship between body image and exercise in the first five years post-birth. Twenty-one mothers (0-5 years postpartum) completed individual, semi-structured online/phone interviews (M interview time =47.25 min), to elicit narratives about peripartum body image and its relationship with exercise. Thematic analysis was conducted according to the Braun and Clarke framework. Three key themes, and several subthemes, were identified: 1.body image in early motherhood is diverse, dynamic and individual, 2.postpartum exercise forms part of early motherhood adjustment, and 3.body image and exercise form an important, intricate relationship in early motherhood. Women's narratives indicated three body image/exercise patterns, each characterised by different behaviours and motivations. Mothers who reported exercising, or avoiding exercising, for reasons related to body dissatisfaction appeared at greatest risk of negative outcomes from body-related distress and maladaptive exercise patterns. Conversely, mothers reporting higher body appreciation described more adaptive exercise behaviours. This research provides important information for the development of interventions to support positive body image and healthful exercise in early motherhood.

Development and Psychometric Properties of the Self-Acceptance Scales for Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Self-acceptance, that is, a person's acceptance of their own psychological and physical attributes, is considered critical for mental wellbeing. A lack of self-acceptance may contribute to the development of psychopathology. In the peripartum period, self-acceptance has particular relevance, as major psychological and body changes are normative during this time. This research presents the development and validation of the Self-Acceptance Scale for Pregnant Women (SAS-PW) and the Self-Acceptance Scale for Postpartum Women (SAS-PPW). Participants were aged 18-52. In Study 1, we developed 77 items for the SAS-PW and 74 items the SAS-PPW, based on literature review, previous scales, and qualitative study. In Study 2, nine experts and 60 representatives of the target population evaluated the instruments' content validity, leading some items to be excluded and others to be modified. Studies 3 and 4 analyzed the instruments' psychometric qualities among respondents to the instruments, 1254 pregnant women and 607 postpartum women from across Brazil. We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with independent samples. The final SAS-PW (10 items and two-factors) and SAS-PPW (14 items and three-factors) demonstrated adequate psychometric quality for use with Brazilian pregnant and postpartum women, respectively.

Validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale

OBJECTIVES

To describe the translation and cultural adaptation, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale when applied to Brazilian pregnant women.

BACKGROUND

Poor body image of pregnant women is associated with negative outcomes for maternal and child health. However, there is a lack of psychometric studies aiming to evaluate the body image experiences during pregnancy.

METHODS

A methodological study was carried out with 187 Brazilian pregnant women. We performed translation and cross-cultural adaptation (evidence of content validity), and evaluated the psychometric properties (factorial validity through principal component analysis, discriminant validity, and estimated internal consistency) of the Brazilian version of the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale.

RESULTS

The scale items presented semantic, idiomatic, cultural, and conceptual equivalences, showing evidence of content validity. Principal component analysis resulted in a 6-factor structure with 35 items which showed an adequate adjustment of the scale among Brazilian pregnant women. Adequate estimated internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .88) was found. The Brazilian version was not able to discriminate pregnant women from different gestational age.

CONCLUSION

The Brazilian version of the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale showed evidence of content validity, factorial validity, and estimated internal consistency.

Mumbod? A comparison of body image and dietary restraint among women with younger, older, and no children

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of significant body, and body image changes for women. Adult women (N = 885) aged 21 to 47 years old completed an online questionnaire. Mothers of young children (0-5 years) had significantly lower levels of body shame, self-objectification, and dietary restraint than women without children, and women with school-aged (6-10 years) children had significantly lower self objectification than women without children, once we controlled for age. BMI predicted body shame more than motherhood status. This research has implications for the development of appropriate body image interventions for adult women.

Pregnancy-Related Weight and Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: Do the Relationships Differ by Race/Ethnicity?

Background: There are significant racial/ethnic disparities in the prevalence of postpartum depression. Prior research in the general population suggests that weight status is related to depression and that this relationship varies by race/ethnicity. However, few studies have investigated whether race/ethnicity moderates the relationship between pregnancy-related weight and postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS). The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between pregnancy-related weight and maternal PPDS overall and by race/ethnicity. Materials and Methods: This study used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (n ≈ 6950). Ordinary least-squares and logistic regression was used to examine whether pregnancy-related weight, including preconception weight status and gestational weight gain (GWG), was associated with PPDS measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Stratified analyses were used to assess whether these relationships varied by race/ethnicity. Results: Preconception obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m²) was associated with higher levels of PPDS (β = 0.601, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.149-1.053). GWG adequacy was not associated with PPDS. Among non-Hispanic (NH) whites, preconception obesity was positively associated with PPDS (β = 1.016, 95% CI, 0.448-1.584). In contrast, among Hispanics, preconception overweight (25 kg/m² ≤ BMI <30 kg/m²) was associated with lower levels of PPDS (β = -0.887, 95% CI, -1.580 to -0.195). There were no statistically significant relationships between pregnancy-related weight and PPDS among NH black or Asian women, but both groups were significantly more likely than NH whites to report PPDS. Conclusion: Whether and how pregnancy-related weight is associated with PPDS varies by race/ethnicity. Addressing preconception weight could help reduce overall levels of PPDS among NH whites but would likely fail to mitigate racial/ethnic disparities in postpartum mental health.

An application of psychosocial frameworks for eating disorder risk during the postpartum period: A review and future directions

The postpartum period may be a particular window of vulnerability for eating disorder symptoms given changes to body shape and weight that women experience. However, no quantitative studies have identified risk factors for postpartum eating disorder symptoms, and current psychosocial frameworks of risk may be missing key elements unique to this period. This manuscript reviews existing quantitative and qualitative literature regarding the developmental trajectory of eating disorder symptoms during the perinatal period and proposes an application of three psychosocial models of eating disorder risk (objectification theory, the tripartite influence model of body image and eating disturbances, and social comparison theory) to the postpartum period. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative literature, this paper identifies novel postpartum-specific factors that should be included for consideration in psychosocial models (e.g., self-oriented body comparison and pressure to achieve a prepregnancy weight and shape). This review is the first to theorize potential postpartum-specific risk factors for postpartum eating disorder symptoms. Prior models of eating disorder risk omit key psychosocial factors that are unique to the postpartum period. Other limitations of prior research relate to measurement and methodology. This critical window of vulnerability has been largely ignored in the quantitative literature and necessitates further research.