Mediating Effects of Body Image Satisfaction on Exercise Behavior, Depressive Symptoms, and Gestational Weight Gain in Pregnancy

Abstract

These preliminary findings demonstrate that body image satisfaction is an important psychological determinant of depressive symptoms in pregnancy. Promoting healthy body image may be a non-pharmacological strategy that offers protective effects against depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Imagem corporal, atitudes alimentares, sintomas depressivos, autoestima e ansiedade em gestantes de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brasil

“…Added to the food attitudes and self-esteem, depressive symptoms explained 35.9% of the variance of the pregnant women's body attitudes. Depression has been related to body image in surveys with this public 2,14,22,45 , principally due to the negative impacts that the latter can have on the health of the mother and the baby. In the present study, depression was considered to be one of the predictive factors for negative feelings about the body.…”

“…Studies have been made relating BMI to the body image of pregnant women 13,22,[46][47][48] . These studies agree that the greater the BMI, the greater the discontentment with the body.…”

“…The attitude dimension is part of the bodily image and is related to behaviors, thoughts and feelings in relation to physical appearance 16,18 . In previous studies significant associations were identified between the negative body image in pregnant women and certain characteristics, including: high body mass index (BMI) 19 ; inappropriate food attitudes 20,21 ; depressive symptoms 14,22 ; low self-esteem 10,23 ; and high levels of anxiety 24 . Such associations are worrying because they can have negative consequences for health, both for the mother and for the fetus 15 , such as: low birth weight; delayed infantile development; premature birth; and in some cases, abortion 25 .…”

Comportamento alimentar e percepção da imagem corporal de gestantes atendidas em um ambulatório de alto risco

“…Tem-se mostrado que as mulheres estão mais suscetíveis a elevados níveis de insatisfação corporal do início da gestação à metade do segundo trimestre, e que, assim ocorrendo, apresentam maiores chances de manterem esse quadro no terceiro trimestre, em associação com sintomas depressivos (2,23) . Isto reforça a importância do acompanhamento das gestantes desde cedo para detectar e tratar possíveis complicações de forma precoce e promover uma imagem corporal saudável e positiva nesse grupo (23) . A maternidade precipita várias problemáticas, principalmente aquelas relacionadas com o comportamento alimentar, podendo gerar um sentimento de perda de controle das quantidades ingeridas e mesmo do peso (24) .…”

Comparing a Novel Antenatal Program with a Standard in Disadvantaged Women at Psychosocial Risk: A Randomized Controlled Study

“…Other study with a program that includes body awareness with physical exercise in pregnancy observed influences in the perception of self-efficacy, and simultaneously a practice exercise improves the body's internal competence [30]. However, few investigations contemplated the benefits of antenatal exercise program incurred bodily consciousness.…”