Body Dissatisfaction among Pregnant Women: Associations with Anxiety and Depression

Abstract

Abstract Introduction. During pregnancy, the body undergoes extreme changes that can lead to dissatisfaction and a loss of self-esteem. This vulnerability arises from objective physical changes and societal pressures to conform to beauty norms. This study aimed to investigate the presence of body dissatisfaction and its association with depression and anxiety in a sample of pregnant women. Methods. A cross-sectional digital survey was administered between May and June 2022. The survey included sociodemographic, pregnancy, weight-nutritional, and mental health domains. The latter included an exploration of psychiatric self-reported history alongside standardized instruments for evaluating body dissatisfaction (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, EDE-Q), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms (General Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7). Subsequently, the dataset underwent descriptive analyses, followed by applying Kendall’s Tau correlations and linear regression models to explore the association between depression, anxiety, and body dissatisfaction. Results. Within our sample (N = 711), one in ten subjects reported body dissatisfaction during pregnancy, with nearly half experiencing symptoms indicative of anxiety and depression. Body dissatisfaction was found to be associated with anxious-depressive symptoms and with a history of depression. Conclusions. The conspicuous prevalence of body dissatisfaction, associated with depression and anxiety, suggests considering the issue of body experience as an indicative marker of perinatal emotional distress. This justifies the need for in-depth exploration within clinical settings, where opportunities for therapeutic interventions can be explored.