Longitudinal associations between mindfulness and changes to body image in first-time parent couples

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Perinatal Health
• Mindfulness Studies

Background:

• Pregnancy and postpartum often lead to negative body image changes.
• Existing research primarily focuses on the birthing parent, neglecting protective factors for both partners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if mindfulness acts as a protective factor against body image declines in new-parent couples.
• To examine the role of specific mindfulness facets in maintaining positive body image for mothers and partners during the perinatal period.

Main Methods:

• Assessed 257 new-parent couples from mid-pregnancy to 6-months postpartum.
• Measured mothers' body image and partners' perception of mothers' body across four time points.
• Assessed partners' mindfulness facets (observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, non-reactivity) in the second trimester using dyadic latent growth curve modeling.

Main Results:

• Mothers' positive body image declined postpartum, while partners' perception of mothers' body remained stable.
• Mindfulness facets positively correlated with mothers' body image (observing, describing, non-judging) and partners' perception (non-judging) during pregnancy.
• Mothers' mindfulness (acting with awareness, non-judging) predicted their subsequent body image trajectory.

Conclusions:

• Mindfulness facets are significant protective factors for perinatal body image in both mothers and partners.
• Interventions targeting mindfulness during pregnancy could support positive body image throughout the perinatal period.