Abstract

Objective. During pregnancy, the body undergoes extreme changes that can lead to dissatisfaction and a loss of self-esteem. This vulnerability arises from objective physical changes and societal pressures to conform to beauty norms. This study aimed to investigate the presence of eating symptoms and their association with depression and anxiety in a sample of Italian pregnant women.

Methods. An ad hoc online survey investigated eating symptoms (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, EDE-Q), depressive symptoms  (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms  (General Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7). Correlations and multistep linear regression analyzed associations between eating symptoms, depression, and anxiety.

Results. Within our sample  (N = 711), one in ten subjects reported eating symptoms during pregnancy, with nearly half experiencing symptoms indicative of anxiety and depression. Eating symptoms were found to be associated with anxious-depressive symptoms and with a history of depression.

Conclusions. The conspicuous prevalence of eating symptoms, associated with depression and anxiety, suggests considering the issue of body experience as an indicative marker of perinatal emotional distress. This justifies the need for in-depth exploration within clinical settings, where opportunities for therapeutic interventions can be explored.

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Authors

Silvia Tempia Valenta - Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6295-0741

Anna Andreotti - Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy

Sofia Aldrovandi - Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy

Valentina Baldini - Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy

Marco Menchetti - Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy

Diana De Ronchi - Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy

Anna Rita Atti - Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy

How to Cite
Tempia Valenta, S., Andreotti, A., Aldrovandi, S., Baldini, V., Menchetti, M., De Ronchi, D., & Atti, A. R. (2024). Beyond Expectations: Understanding Eating Symptoms and Mental Health Among Pregnant Women in Italy. Italian Journal of Psychiatry, 10(3). Retrieved from https://www.italianjournalofpsychiatry.it/article/view/587
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