Associations between social media use, body mass index, and body image among pregnant women

Body image during pregnancy is an important psychosocial factor that influences maternal well-being. Emerging evidence suggests that both social media exposure and body mass index (BMI) may shape body image perceptions during this period. This study examined the associations between social media use, BMI, and body image in pregnant women. This cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted with 272 pregnant women recruited through convenience sampling from the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinics of a state hospital in the Mediterranean region of Türkiye. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Social Media Addiction Scale–Adult Form, and the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale. Correlation analysis showed that higher social media addiction scores were significantly associated with higher BIPS scores (r = 0.366, p < 0.001), whereas BMI was not significantly correlated (r = 0.090, p = 0.140) with body image Multiple linear regression analysis further demonstrated that satisfaction with body before pregnancy (β = 0.137, p = 0.024), satisfaction with body changes during pregnancy (β = 0.205, p = 0.003), emotions when away from social media (β = 0.161, p = 0.016), and social media addiction (β = 0.347, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with higher negative body image scores, while worry about postpartum body appearance was inversely associated with BIPS scores (β = -0.155, p = 0.026). The model explained 30.5% of the variance in body image, with social media addiction emerging as the strongest predictor. This study demonstrated that higher levels of social media use and addiction were associated with more negative body image perceptions among pregnant women. Health professionals may consider integrating counseling and educational interventions into prenatal care to promote healthier and more mindful social media use during pregnancy.