Psychosocial influences in dietary patterns during pregnancy

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that psychosocial factors may affect dietary intakes and health. The current analysis examined the association of six indices of psychosocial well-being with dietary intake during pregnancy. One hundred thirty-four women with low-risk, normal pregnancies participated in a cross-sectional, observational study that assessed dietary intake at 28 weeks' gestation. Psychosocial characteristics, including anxiety, depressed mood, anger, fatigue, social support, and stress were assessed between 24 and 32 weeks' gestation. Pearson product-moment correlations were calculated to determine the relationships between psychosocial factors and diet. Findings suggest that pregnant women who were more fatigued, stressed, and anxious consumed more foods, as evidenced by their increased macronutrient intakes, while appearing to have decreased intakes of some micronutrients. Psychosocial factors should be considered when counseling women regarding diet during pregnancy. © 2005 American Dietetic Association.