The Relation Between Body Perception and Acceptance of Prenancy Related with The Weight Gain During The Pregnancy

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to investigate the relation between body perception and acceptance of prenancy related with the weight gain during the pregnancy. Material-Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2017 and January 2018 at the Health Research and Application Center Hospital, Gynecology and Urology Polyclinics of a university in Edirne. The study was conducted with 185 women who presented to the hospital. Data were collected with the information form prepared by the researchers according to the literature, The Subscale Body Perception of Pregnancy Self-Perception of Pregnants Scale (SPSS-BPP) and The subscale Acceptance of Pregnancy of Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ-AP). Results: The mean of age was found 29.9 ± 6.4 years, marriage time was 7.3 ± 6.5 years, gestational week was 26.0 ± 8.3 weeks, the mean of weight that they gained during pregnancy was 9.1 ± 4.1 kilos. It was determined that 64.9% of pregnants were uncomfortable with kilos and 14.6% of them thought that others were uncomfortable with their kilos. The mean of subscale Body Perception of Pregnancy of SPPS was 15.7 ± 5.4. The mean of subscale Acceptance of Pregnancy of PSEQ scores were 23.8 ± 14.6. There was a correlation between SPSS-BPP scores and PSEQ-AP scores of pregnant women. There was a correlation between weight they gained during pregnancy and SPSS-BPP and PSEQ-AP scores of pregnant women. Conclusion: According to results, while the body perception of pregnancy increased positively, the acceptance of pregnancy also increased. When the acceptance of pregnancy increased, body perception also affected positively.

The effects of motherhood and body perception on sexual dysfunctions among pregnant women

“…This result indicated that the body perception of pregnant women was negative (Table 3). Studies support our results (Alkin & Beydağ, 2020; Küçükkaya et al, 2020). Pregnancy is one of the most important periods in which the woman focuses on her body and body perception come to the forefront, and the changes in the body image developed as pregnancy progresses.…”

“…In the study of Arslan et al, it was determined that women who thought they were obese during pregnancy had a negative body image (Arslan et al, 2019). In a similar study, it was determined that as the weight gain increased, body image was negatively affected (Küçükkaya et al, 2020).…”

“…In a similar study, it was determined that as the weight gain increased, body image was negatively affected (Küçükkaya et al, 2020).…”

Body image perceptions of pregnant women in the third trimester in Turkey: A qualitative study

“…In a study conducted by Chang et al that examined the body image of women in their final trimester, findings indicated that changes in skin colour, breast enlargement, and the appearance of stretch marks on the abdomen all contributed to feelings of discomfort, self‐perceived unattractiveness, and concerns about not returning to their prepregnancy state 5 . The research underscores the correlation between body dissatisfaction during pregnancy and a range of unfavourable pregnancy‐related health outcomes, like prenatal depression and anxiety, weight gain, obesity, and maternal‐fetal issues 3,6–8 . Conversely, there are instances of women who find contentment in the breast and abdomen growth they experience during pregnancy 9 .…”

“…5 The research underscores the correlation between body dissatisfaction during pregnancy and a range of unfavourable pregnancy-related health outcomes, like prenatal depression and anxiety, weight gain, obesity, and maternal-fetal issues. 3,[6][7][8] Conversely, there are instances of women who find contentment in the breast and abdomen growth they experience during pregnancy. 9 Furthermore, some women embrace the notion that birthing a child signifies a healthy body and welcome these bodily changes positively.…”