Personality type influence the gestational weight gain.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Behavioral Science
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Pregnancy is often followed by obesity, influenced by hormonal and psychological factors.
• Understanding factors influencing gestational weight gain is crucial for maternal health.
• Personality traits may play a role in weight management during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between personality types and the extent of gestational weight gain.
• To identify if specific personality patterns correlate with excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 773 women post-term delivery.
• Gestational weight gain calculated using self-reported pre-pregnancy and 38-week pregnancy weights.
• Personality type assessed via the Polish version of the Framingham Type A Behavior Patterns Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Gestational weight gain correlated with personality type and age.
• Women under 30 with Type A personality showed higher weight gain than Type B.
• Women over 30 with Type B personality exhibited greater gestational weight gain.
• Type A personality and urgency in younger women increased obesity risk during pregnancy.
• High competitiveness was a risk factor for excessive gestational weight gain across all ages.

Conclusions:

• Personality type influences gestational weight gain, with age as a modifying factor.
• Type A behavior, particularly urgency, poses an obesity risk for younger pregnant women.
• Competitiveness is a significant risk factor for excessive weight gain during pregnancy.