The role of body dissatisfaction and self-compassion in pregnancy-related anxiety

Journal article

Dryer, Mary Rachel, Chee, Priscilla and Brunton, Robyn. (2022). The role of body dissatisfaction and self-compassion in pregnancy-related anxiety. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. 313, pp. 84-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.068
AuthorsDryer, Mary Rachel, Chee, Priscilla and Brunton, Robyn
Abstract

Background
Women undergo significant physical, physiological, and psychological changes during pregnancy. They are also exposed to sociocultural pressure to meet appearance-related ideals. These pregnancy-related changes and sociocultural appearance-related pressures may place pregnant women at greater vulnerability to developing body dissatisfaction and psychological distress. To date, however, little is known about how sociocultural pressure may influence pregnancy-related anxiety, or factors that may protect against such distress during pregnancy. This study examined whether body dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between appearance-related sociocultural pressure and pregnancy-related anxiety, and whether this relationship was moderated by self-compassion and/or self-criticism.

Method
A cross-sectional sample of 253 pregnant women (Mage = 26.28, SDage = 4.43) completed an online questionnaire measuring sociocultural pressure, body dissatisfaction, pregnancy-related anxiety, and self-compassion.

Results
Moderated mediation analyses revealed body dissatisfaction fully mediated the relationship between sociocultural pressure and pregnancy-related anxiety. Analyses confirmed the moderating role of self-compassion and self-criticism on the relationship between sociocultural pressure and body dissatisfaction, but not on the relationship between body dissatisfaction and pregnancy-related anxiety.

Limitations
The cross-sectional nature of this study limits confirmation of the direction of relationships between sociocultural pressure, body dissatisfaction and pregnancy-related anxiety.

Conclusions
While the findings of this study need to be replicated in prospective and longitudinal studies, they suggest that sociocultural pressure to meet appearance-related standards contribute to body dissatisfaction, which in turn may facilitate pregnancy-related anxiety. Self-compassion may protect the body image of pregnant women against negative effects of appearance-related sociocultural pressure.

Keywordspregnancy; pregnancy-related anxiety; body dissatisfaction; sociocultural pressure; self-compassion
Year2022
JournalJournal of Affective Disorders Reports
Journal citation313, pp. 84-91
PublisherElsevier B.V.
ISSN0165-0327
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.068
PubMed ID35772628
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85133457871
Page range84-91
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online27 Jun 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted19 Jun 2022
Deposited26 Jul 2023
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