Self-esteem, partner support, and body image changes across pregnancy
Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/02646838.2026.2700754
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Body image, pregnancy, self-esteem, spouses, self-concept, mediation analysis
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: To examine longitudinal changes in body image, self-esteem, spousal support, dyadic adjustment, and sexual function across pregnancy trimesters and investigate the mediating role of relationship factors in the association between self-esteem and body image. Methods: This prospective longitudinal cohort study followed 266 pregnant women from the first trimester (T1; 7 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks) through the third trimester (T3; 32–36 weeks) at a tertiary care hospital in Turkey. Participants completed the Body Image in Pregnancy Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Spousal Support Scale, Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Female Sexual Function Index each trimester. Pre-pregnancy BMI was included as a covariate in mediation analyses Results: Body image deteriorated significantly from T1 to T3 (Cohen’s d = 1.72), while sexual function declined (d = 0.39). Self-esteem remained stable across pregnancy. The half-longitudinal mediation analysis demonstrated that T1 self-esteem was associated with T3 body image both directly and indirectly through T3 relationship quality. This association was partially mediated by relationship variables (19% of variance at T1, 16% at T3), with spousal support predominating in early pregnancy and couple adjustment in late pregnancy. Sexual function did not serve as a significant mediator. Conclusions: Pregnancy involves substantial deterioration in body image and sexual function, while relationship quality improves. Sexual function decline was not significantly associated with the self-esteem–body image pathway in the present analyses, suggesting that different mechanisms may underlie sexual function changes during pregnancy. Self-esteem is associated with body image partly through perceived partner support in early pregnancy and relationship adjustment in late pregnancy.