Comparing body image dissatisfaction between pregnant women and non-pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: Body image dissatisfaction refers to negative thoughts and feelings individuals have towards their own body appearance and this is thought to be affected by the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. There are two main conflicting theories as to the effect pregnancy has on body image dissatisfaction: 1) Pregnancy related changes are in direct conflict with social ideas of female beauty (e.g. weight gain) and so increase body image dissatisfaction; 2) Due to changes in expectations of bodily appearance during pregnancy, women are liberated from social ideals at this time and thus body image dissatisfaction would decrease. This study aimed to assess these theories by synthesising the current literature. Six databases were searched, and 2,017 study abstracts were screened based on

SUBMITTER: Crossland AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10548696 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature