Determinants of well-being in pregnancy in Turkish women: the role of body image and self-compassion

This study aimed to examine the relationship between well-being, body image, and self-compassion during pregnancy and identify self-compassion's mediating role in this relationship. This descriptive correlational study was conducted with 162 pregnant women in a university hospital in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Participant Information Form, the Well-Being in Pregnancy Questionnaire, the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale, and the Compassion Scale-Short Form. Well-being was significantly correlated with body image (<i>r</i> = ‒0.47, <i>p</i> = 0.001) and self-compassion (<i>r</i> = 0.45, <i>p</i> = 0.001). In the final regression model, self-compassion (β = 0.308, 95% CI [0.170, 0.446], <i>p</i> = 0.001), body image (β = ‒0.294, 95% CI [-0.427, -0.161], <i>p</i> = 0.001), planned pregnancy (β = 0.174, 95% CI [0.045, 0.303], <i>p</i> = 0.008), and employment status (β = 0.153, 95% CI [0.026, 0.280], <i>p</i> = 0.018) were significant predictors of well-being. Mediation analysis revealed that self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between body image and well-being (indirect effect: B = ‒0.055, SE = 0.016, 95% CI [-0.088, -0.027], <i>p</i> = 0.001). The final model explained 38% of the variance in well-being. The findings highlight the negative relationship between well-being and body image during pregnancy, emphasizing the need for self-compassion-focused interventions in care to improve the well-being of pregnant women.