Body image in pregnant women: a longitudinal study

ABSTRACT Objectives To compare body attitudes, eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, anxiety and body mass index (BMI) of pregnant women at different times during pregnancy, as well as to verify the influence that these variables have on body attitudes in the first, second and third trimester. Methods We included 17 pregnant women who attended prenatal care in the city of Juiz de Fora-MG, between 22 to 41 years old (mean 30.76 ± 5.65 years old), excluding those with incomplete data. The assessments instruments were: Body Attitudes Questionnaire, Eating Attitudes Test-26, Beck Depression Inventory, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, the short version of the Brazilian State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and sociodemographic questionnaire. In addition, anthropometric and obstetric data were collected. Descriptive, comparative and correlational statistical analyses were performed. Results The BMI, negative body attitudes and the “feeling fat” increased progressively throughout pregnancy (p < 0.01). Eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem and anxiety-state did not differ in these three conditions (p > 0.05). In addition, BMI explained 31% of the variance of negative body attitudes in the first trimester, while eating attitudes were responsible for 30% e 46% of body attitudes in the second and third trimester, respectively. Conclusions The body attitudes, eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem and anxiety remained constant throughout pregnancy. BMI and eating attitudes influenced the body image in pregnant women. It was suggested the creation of specific instruments in order to better understand the body concerns of pregnant women.

摘要
研究目的 本研究旨在比较妊娠不同时期孕妇的身体态度、进食态度、抑郁症状、自尊水平、焦虑状态及身体质量指数（Body Mass Index, BMI），并验证上述变量在妊娠早、中、晚期对身体态度的影响。
研究方法 本研究纳入17名在米纳斯吉拉斯州茹伊斯迪福拉市接受产前检查的孕妇，年龄范围为22至41岁（平均年龄30.76±5.65岁），排除数据不全的受试者。评估工具包括：身体态度问卷（Body Attitudes Questionnaire）、进食态度测试-26（Eating Attitudes Test-26）、贝克抑郁量表（Beck Depression Inventory）、罗森伯格自尊量表（Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale）、巴西版状态-特质焦虑量表简版（short version of the Brazilian State-Trait Anxiety Inventory）及社会人口学问卷。此外，本研究收集了受试者的人体测量学与产科相关数据。采用描述性、比较性及相关性统计分析方法进行数据处理。
研究结果 随着妊娠进程推进，BMI、消极身体态度及肥胖感均呈渐进性升高（p<0.01）。进食态度、抑郁症状、自尊水平及状态焦虑在三个妊娠时期均无显著差异（p>0.05）。此外，BMI可解释妊娠早期31%的消极身体态度变异，而进食态度分别可解释妊娠中、晚期30%与46%的身体态度变异。
研究结论 孕妇的身体态度、进食态度、抑郁症状、自尊水平及焦虑状态在整个妊娠期间保持相对稳定。BMI与进食态度会对孕妇的身体意象产生影响。本研究建议开发针对性评估工具，以更深入地了解孕妇的身体忧虑状况。