Psychosocial influences on XXXX attitudes and behaviors during pregnancy.

@entity1 @entity1017 @entity148 @entity308
OBJECTIVE: To examine pregnant @entity1 's weight-related attitudes and behaviors in relation to a constellation of psychosocial characteristics, prepregnancy body habitus, and gestational @entity1017 . @entity1 : One hundred-thirty @entity1 with low-risk, normal pregnancies. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study assessed attitudes about @entity1017 at 36 weeks' gestation. Psychosocial characteristics, including @entity148 , @entity308 , social support, emotionality, and pregnancy-specific and nonspecific stress appraisal were assessed between 28 and 36 weeks' gestation. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED: Principal components factor analysis, Pearson correlations, t tests, and analysis of variance. RESULT: A range of positive and negative attitudes about @entity1017 was expressed. Twenty-one percent (n=27) of the sample endorsed at least one weight-restrictive behavior during pregnancy. @entity1 who reported more weight-restrictive behaviors were more anxious (r=.24, P<.01), @entity308 (r=.29,P<.001), angry (r=.29, P<.001), stressed (r=.23, P<.01), and felt less uplifted (r=-.21, P<.05) about their pregnancies in general. Higher Positive Pregnancy Body Image scores were associated with feeling better about the pregnancy in general (r=.35, P<.001), fewer @entity308 , and less anger (both r=.20, both P<.01). @entity1 who were self conscious about their @entity1017 felt more hassled by their pregnancies (r=.21, P<.05), greater anger (r=.21, P<.05), and more support from partners (r=.22, P<.05). Prepregnancy body mass index was unrelated, but negative attitudes about @entity1017 existed even among @entity1 who gained within recommended ranges. CONCLUSION: @entity1 's attitudes about @entity1017 in pregnancy are imbedded in their orientation toward pregnancy as well as their general psychological functioning. Effective nutrition counseling for pregnant @entity1 should include consideration of weight-restrictive behaviors, the degree to which the pregnancy is perceived as positive and uplifting, and whether @entity1017 attitudes may be associated with their relationship with a spouse or partner.
