Depression in Pregnant Women: Relationship Factors and Effect of Body Image on Depression

Abstract

Background: Depression is an important problem that needs to be taken into consideration, since it affects mother’s and baby’s health. Purpose: This study was conducted to determine depressive symptoms of pregnant women to investigate body image and some related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used in the study, and it was conducted with the participation of 520 pregnant women in Turkey. The data collection tools included a survey, the Beck’s Depression Inventory, and the Body Cathexis Scale were used in the study. Results: In the study, 24.6% of the pregnant women have depressive symptoms. Pregnant women’s low education level, poor income, chronic diseases, “low” BMI, and whether they smoke or not were found to be related factors to depressive symptoms (p<0.05 for each). Besides, pregnant women with depressive symptoms have lower body image satisfaction (p<0.05). The study found that body image affects depressive symptoms 0.971 times (Beta: -0.029; p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that one-fourth of pregnant women have depressive symptoms. It was found pregnant women that low education level, poor income, chronic diseases, and “low” BMI and whether they smoke or not are factors related to with depressive symptoms. Besides body image is a risk factor affecting depressive symptoms for pregnant women.

Keywords

• Depression
• pregnant women
• body image

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