Digital Commons @ SPU

Measuring body image during pregnancy’s impact on the level of postpartum depression

It is well known that women experience many changes within their bodies during the perinatal period, and that postpartum depression is the most common mental illness following childbirth due to the many chemical, behavioral, and psychological changes that occur in women’s bodies. “Literature reporting body image disturbances across the perinatal period has produced inconsistent findings, owing to the complexity of body image experiences during pregnancy and the first year postpartum” (2015, Watson et al.). Body image issues during the perinatal period are common, although “more research based on measures suitable to cover the special features of body image during pregnancy is necessary to improve our knowledge about the nature, course and possible adaptation mechanisms of body image during pregnancy” (2019, Nagl et al.). This study would provide more evidence specific to the impact of body image issues during pregnancy and measure if there is an association with postpartum depression.ture research should continue to explore reasons behind geriatric depression as well as effective treatment methods.