A longitudinal study on the relationship between mother\u2019s personality trait and eating behaviors, food intake, maternal weight gain during pregnancy and neonatal birth weight

Mahboobeh Shakeri,Sima Jafarirad,Mahin Najafian,Reza Amani,Bahman Cheraghian

doi:10.1186/s12937-020-00584-2

Mahboobeh Shakeri, Sima Jafarirad + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-020-00584-2

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Abstract

BackgroundMany factors such as social and behavioral are related to appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, and there is much of importance to find them. The aim of the study was to explore the association of personality traits, with eating behaviors, food intake, maternal weight gain during pregnancy as well as the neonatal birth weight.MethodsThis is a longitudinal and cross-sectional study. Eating behaviors were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and the NEO personality inventory was used to assess personality in pregnant subjects. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to determine food intake. Three hundred and sixty pregnant subjects from Ahvaz (the capital city of Khuzestan province, Iran) were followed from the 20th week of pregnancy until delivery.ResultsHigh neuroticism was associated with higher consumption of highly energetic foods (p < 0.05) and less consumption of vegetables (p < 0.01), also was related with lower weight gain during pregnancy and neonatal birth weight (p < 0.05). Openness to experience, extraversion and agreeableness were linked with higher consumption of vegetables (p < 0.05). Conscientiousness predicted lower neonatal weight (odds ratio: 1.20, confidence interval: 1.07–1.34, p < 0.01).ConclusionsIdentification of personality traits would help to change the lifestyle and improve management guidelines.

Highlights

Many factors such as social and behavioral are related to appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, and there is much of importance to find them
360 women were included in the analysis
Pearson correlations suggest that personality factors are significantly correlated with eating behaviors and women’s dietary food intakes

Summary

Introduction

Many factors such as social and behavioral are related to appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, and there is much of importance to find them. The aim of the study was to explore the association of personality traits, with eating behaviors, food intake, maternal weight gain during pregnancy as well as the neonatal birth weight. The Five-Factor Model (FFM) is often used for the assessment of personality traits [14]. This model has been validated in many studies in different cultures by using different assessment tools [15,16,17]. A study showed subjects with higher body mass index (BMI) had lower scores on conscientiousness or higher scores on extraversion or neuroticism personality traits. Other studies consider neuroticism as a risk factor for obesity and showed protective effect of conscientiousness toward weight gain [19]

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