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Body image and psychological well‐being in pregnancy. A comparison of exercisers and non‐exercisers
Author(s) -
Goodwin Ann,
Astbury Jill,
McMeeken Joan
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2000.tb01178.x
Subject(s) - pregnancy , anxiety , general health questionnaire , physical therapy , gestation , medicine , psychology , psychological well being , clinical psychology , psychiatry , genetics , biology
Summary: This study compared the perceptions of body image and psychological well‐being between exercising and non‐exercising pregnant women. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted with 65 nulliparous women (mean age years = 30.3, range = 23–39) who were allocated to 2 groups based on level of recreational exercise participation; 25 exercisers were compared with 18 non‐exercisers. A self‐report exercise history questionnaire and a 10 item Body Cathexis Scale were completed on two occasions during the pregnancy, at approximately 17 weeks and 30 weeks of gestation. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐28) was administered in late pregnancy. There was a significant difference between the exercise group and the non‐exercise group in late pregnancy for some items on the Body Cathexis Scale. The exercise group had a lower level of probable caseness on the GHQ‐28 with reduced frequency of somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, and a higher level of psychological well‐being.