Abstract
Pregnancy and postpartum represent a critical transition period for changes in eating disorder (ED) symptoms and depression. Past research has established a relationship between ED and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. However, changes in depression and ED symptom across stages of pregnancy and postpartum, and factors that influence this relationship, remain understudied. Social factors and self-evaluative factors may be important given rapidly changing social pressures and expectations during this transitional time. The current study (N = 454 pregnant women) examined (1) differences in ED and depressive symptoms across pregnancy and postpartum and (2) whether social factors (social appearance anxiety; social support) and self-evaluative factors (maladaptive perfectionism; self-compassion) moderate the relationship between depression and ED symptoms cross-sectionally and prospectively. Study aims, hypotheses, and data analysis were preregistered on the Open Science Foundation (osf.io). This study did not identify differences in ED or depression symptoms across women at different stages of pregnancy; however, depression symptoms significantly improved within individuals from pregnancy to postpartum. ED symptoms and all social and self-evaluative factors were uniquely associated with depression during pregnancy. ED symptoms, maladaptive perfectionism, social appearance anxiety, and self-compassion during pregnancy significantly predicted postpartum depression, when accounting for prenatal depression. During pregnancy, but not postpartum, when social support and self-compassion were low, and when maladaptive perfectionism was high, there was a stronger relationship between ED and depression symptoms. ED symptoms and social and self-evaluative factors could be targeted in routine medical care and stepped-care interventions to improve maternal mental healthcare and prevent postpartum depression.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
