Investigation of the Relationship Between Body Image, Orthorexia Nervosa and Cyberchondria in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between body image, orthorexia nervosa and cyberchondria in pregnant women. Method: Using a correlational-interceptive-descriptive paradigm, 288 pregnant Turkish women were included in the study between December 6, 2022, and December 1, 2023. A personal information form, the Cyberchondria Severity Scale, the Orthorexia Nervosa Scale, and the Body Image Scale were used to gather the data. The R programming language 4.1.3, G*Power 3.1, and SPSS 25.0 data analysis tools were used. Results: The statistical results of the hierarchical regression model in our study showed that the model was significant and usable (F(2,285)= 7.457, p=0.001). The combined influence of body image and cyberchondria levels accounted for 22.3% of the variance in orthorexia nervosa levels. The analysis of the regression model's t-test results regarding the regression coefficient's significance revealed that a statistically significant decrease in the participants' level of "orthorexia nervosa" (score increase decreasing orthorectic attitude) was caused by an increase in their body image (t=3.856, p< 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that there was no relationship between "orthorexia nervosa" level and cyberchondria level (t=-0.450, p=0.653). In our study, it was determined that Random forest made the best prediction in determining the most important variable in the prediction of orthorexia nervosa. According to Shapley values, the most important variable in the prediction of orthorexia nervosa was body image. In our study, 95.35% of pregnant women with orthorexia nervosa were correctly predicted by machine learning. Conclusion: In our study, it was determined that the level of orthorexia nervosa decreased as the level of body image appreciation of pregnant women increased. It was found that cyberchondria levels of pregnant women did not affect the level of orthorexia nervosa. Longitudinal studies on orthorexia nervosa in pregnant women are recommended.