Association between Body-Image Satisfaction and Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms among Women with PCOS: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies

Abstract

Anxiety and depressive symptoms are prevalent in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and there is a great need for culturally relevant interventions to improve anxiety and depressive symptoms in women with PCOS. The current study aimed to analyze the factors influencing body-image satisfaction, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in Chinese women with PCOS. It also aimed to clarify the association between body-image satisfaction and anxiety and depressive symptoms in women with PCOS, and whether this association was mediated by cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. A total of 477 women with PCOS were recruited from the Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine Center of one university-affiliated tertiary hospital in China. They completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Body Image States Scale, and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The study found body-image satisfaction showed significant associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms. This association was mediated by cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. The findings of this study offer new insights into the relationship between body image and anxiety and depressive symptoms in women with PCOS. They also emphasize the potential value of promoting body-image satisfaction and enhancing cognitive reappraisal abilities to improve the mental health of women with PCOS.