Relationship Between Body Image and Women’s Mental Health During Pregnancy

Introduction Mental health problems during pregnancy negatively affect the health of both women and infants. Although body image is considered one of the mental health factors, studies investigating the association between positive body image and mental health during pregnancy are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the association between positive body image and mental health in the second trimester of pregnancy among Japanese women. Methods A cross-sectional study using an internet-based questionnaire was conducted among women during the second trimester of pregnancy. Positive body image and mental health were evaluated using the Japanese version of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) and the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Results Of the 468 women included in the analysis, 277 (59.2%) and 67 (14.3%) women showed K6 cut-off values of ≥5 and ≥13, respectively. A higher score in BAS-2, indicating a more positive body image, was associated with a lower risk of psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50-0.84) and serious mental illness (adjusted OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.47-0.97). The associations were highlighted among women who overestimated their body size (psychological distress, OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.25-0.77; serious mental illness, OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.07-0.45). Conclusion Overall, positive body image was associated with a low risk of psychological distress and serious mental illness during the second trimester of pregnancy. These findings suggest that positive body image may influence improvements in mental health during pregnancy.