Social media use impacts body image and eating behavior in pregnant women

Abstract

Social media (SM) use may have detrimental effects on the physical and mental wellbeing of young adults, including body image dissatisfaction (BID) and changes in dietary behavior. This issue may be of particular concern in pregnant women since adequate dietary behavior is essential during pregnancy for the health of the mother and fetus. The present study aimed to investigate how SM use and posting as well as dependence on technological devices relate to body image and dietary behavior in pregnant women. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. A sample of 192 Lebanese pregnant women (29.6 ± 6.2 years old) completed a self-report questionnaire assessing the aforementioned variables. SM usage and posting were both associated with healthy eating behaviors (p = 0.049 and p = 0.03 respectively). On the other hand, SM posting was associated with higher negative body image scores (p = 0.04), postnatal image concerns (p = 0.02), as well as competitiveness with regard to the pregnant body (p = 0.02). Also, dependence on technological devices and internet was associated with higher negative body image scores (p < 0.001), postnatal image concerns (p < 0.001) and increased anxiousness towards the pregnant body (p = 0.02). While SM use and posting are associated with healthy eating behaviors, SM posting and dependence on technological devices are also associated with increased appearance comparison and BID in pregnant women. The present study adds to the growing evidence supporting a significant impact of SM use on physical and mental wellbeing, emphasizing potential deleterious effects during pregnancy. Practical implications are discussed in terms of media literacy interventions and recommendations for healthcare team members to improve maternal counselling and support by encouraging healthy body image, diet and lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy.