Psychological Well-Being, Self-Esteem, and Body Image Satisfaction Among Pregnant Tunisian Women: A Study from Monastir Maternity Department

Introduction Pregnancy induces significant physiological and psychological changes. This study evaluates self-esteem, body image satisfaction, and psychological well-being among pregnant women at Monastir Maternity Center, Tunisia. Objectives 1. To assess self-esteem and body image satisfaction among pregnant women. 2. To evaluate the psychological well-being and the adequacy of support provided during pregnancy. Methods Conducted over two months (March-April 2022) with 62 participants (88.57% response rate) at Monastir Maternity Center. Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and body image satisfaction was assessed with the Body Image States Scale (BISS). Sociodemographic, obstetric, and psychosocial variables were collected. Results The study included 62 participants, with an average age of 31.68 ± 7.49 years. Most participants (62.9%) were stay-at-home individuals, and two-thirds reported their current pregnancy as desired. Body image satisfaction, measured by the Body Image States Scale, averaged 5.32 ± 3.67, indicating moderate satisfaction. Self-esteem was low in 79% of participants, while 74.2% had no depressive symptoms and 90.3% had no anxiety symptoms. Half of the participants (50%) reported their psychological well-being was addressed during pregnancy, with the majority (41.9%) receiving support from family members. Three-quarters (75%) considered pregnancy consultations the best time to discuss psychological issues. Almost all (98.4%) wanted additional psychological support. Over half (56.5%) talked about their pregnancy difficulties with someone, while 22.6% did not address them, and 21.0% did not experience any difficulties. Conclusions The study highlights a significant prevalence of low self-esteem and moderate body image satisfaction among pregnant women.. The study also reveals that while many women discuss their difficulties with others, there remains a gap in addressing psychological issues adequately, particularly considering the majority of participants desire more support. Disclosure of Interest None Declared