A prospective study on body image disturbances during pregnancy and postpartum: the role of cognitive reappraisal

Abstract

BackgroundDuring pregnancy, body size rapidly modifies over a relatively short period. Literature emphasizes the need to identify the factors that influence body image during peripartum as the extent of women’s adaptation to these changes has significant repercussions on both mother’s and newborn’s health. Emotion regulation strategies (i.e., expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal) were linked to body image in the general and clinical population, but no studies were conducted in the peripartum. The present study aims to investigate the longitudinal impact of prepartum body image disturbances on postpartum body image disturbances and to evaluate the mediational role of emotional regulation strategies.MethodsA total of 133 pregnant women completed a three-phase longitudinal study. Women answered online questionnaires during the second (T1) and the third (T2) trimesters of pregnancy, and at about 6 months postpartum (T3).ResultsFindings indicated that body image disturbances at T1 were a significant predictor of body image disturbances in the postpartum (1 year after the first assessment). Moreover, cognitive reappraisal measured at T2 partially mediated this relationship: body image disturbances in the second trimester of pregnancy were linked to less use of cognitive reappraisal in the third trimester of pregnancy, and this, in turn, was associated with worse body image disturbances at 6 months after birth.ConclusionFindings of this longitudinal study highlight the importance of assessing body image disturbances during pregnancy to early identify women at risk, and suggest cognitive reappraisal as a possible target intervention.

Experiential avoidance, thought suppression, meta‐cognition, and body‐checking among women during pregnancy and postpartum: Buffering effect of self‐compassion

“…17 Moreover, the opposite behavior could lead to an increase in cognitive and behavioral changes, such as body-checking, particularly after being preoccupied with one's body, 34 both among pregnant women and those in the postpartum phase. 32 According to the current study, self-compassion was found to negatively predict bodily behaviors among both groups in current study. However, factors showed varying results; for example, experiential avoidance and thought suppression were found to predict body-checking among pregnant women.…”

“…24 These intricacies are usually shaped by the social standards of beauty and also depend how they take their women versus mother role and an incongruence between these two is a cause of greater distress among these women 22 that may prevail postpartum. 25,32 Findings related to body checking outcomes and low self-compassion also suggests the role of self-stigma in bridging the link between them. 32 Our study showed that women who had lower levels of selfcompassion tended to engage in more body checking behaviors when they suppressed their thoughts during pregnancy and postpartum (especially the latter group as evident by group comparison).…”

“…25,32 Findings related to body checking outcomes and low self-compassion also suggests the role of self-stigma in bridging the link between them. 32 Our study showed that women who had lower levels of selfcompassion tended to engage in more body checking behaviors when they suppressed their thoughts during pregnancy and postpartum (especially the latter group as evident by group comparison).…”

“…2,31 A recent study also reports that having a disturbed body image during pregnancy is associated with worsening body image at six-months postpartum. 32 However, some women approach pregnancy with a positive attitude and embrace their maternal role. 24 This self-kindness helps these women avoid misconstruing distressing thoughts and makes them more aware at a meta-cognitive level (e.g., having frequent positive beliefs about worry instead of considering it dangerous and exhibiting a low need to control thoughts as suggested by current findings).…”