Pregnancy-specific body image across first, second, and third trimesters: stability and factor structure

Pregnancy is a distinct period in a woman’s life during which she experiences unique body image challenges. Until recently the field lacked a tailored measure of body image during pregnancy. The purpose of the present study was to modify a new measure called the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale (BIPS) to include body image behaviors, and use this modified measure to examine body image, disordered eating, and depressive symptoms longitudinally across first, second, and third trimesters.

A total of 253 pregnant women were recruited from across the United States via the pregnancy app Ovia. Women completed all three surveys electronically.

Exploratory factor analysis of the modified BIPS suggested four factors: 1) Preoccupation with Body Size, 2) Preoccupation with Attractiveness, 3) Dissatisfaction with Strength, Tone, and Flexibility, and 4) Changes in Eating. Body image at Time 1 was found to significantly predict both eating pathology and general depression at Time 3, controlling for Time 1 BMI, eating, and depression.

Clinical implications of the present study include the ability to efficiently and effectively measure women’s body image across pregnancy. This is particularly important during the first trimester, as body image early in pregnancy on average predicts later mental and physical health outcomes of the mother.