The influence of disordered eating and social media's portrayals of pregnancy on young women's attitudes toward pregnancy

BackgroundGiven the heightened emphasis on physical appearance and the prevalence of social media in young women, they are particularly vulnerable to experiencing negative body image and disordered eating. Therefore, modified social media portrayals of pregnancy could cause young women to have negative attitudes toward a potential pregnancy and subsequently not properly utilize care and resources. The present study examined the influence of disordered eating and modified portrayals of pregnancy on young women's attitudes toward a potential pregnancy and various feelings associated with pregnancy.MethodsThe sample consisted of 154 women aged 18-30, who were given the Eating-Attitudes Test-26, randomly shown either modified or unmodified social media portrayals of pregnancy, then given the Attitudes Toward Potential Pregnancy Scale and the Gestational Weight Gain Psychosocial Risk Assessment Tool.ResultsA series of hierarchal regressions revealed that there were no significant main effects or interactions for young women's attitudes toward potential pregnancy. However, women who viewed modified portrayals of pregnancy had higher self-efficacy, and women with higher levels of disordered eating had lower self-efficacy, more positive attitudes toward gestational weight gain, and lower current body image satisfaction.ConclusionsThese results highlight the myriad of different attitudes that young women have toward a potential pregnancy and how these attitudes are influenced by disordered eating and social media. Our findings can be used for educating caregivers and implementing intervention strategies for women. Plain English summaryYoung women are more likely to have a negative body image and an unhealthy relationship with food because they are more focused on their physical appearance, especially with the rise of social media. If young women with these struggles see edited representations of pregnancy, they can develop a negative attitude about becoming pregnant in the future. This study examined how unhealthy eating habits and highly edited pictures of pregnant women impact young women's attitudes toward a potential pregnancy. Our participants answered questions designed to see if they possess unhealthy eating thoughts and behaviors, then they were randomly shown either highly edited or not highly edited pictures of pregnant women from social media. Then, they answered questions about their attitude toward a potential pregnancy. We found that women with particularly unhealthy relationships with food were less confident about maintaining healthy eating habits throughout pregnancy. However, we also found that women who viewed the highly edited pictures were more confident about maintaining healthy eating habits throughout pregnancy. We can use these results to educate caregivers and help women get better care.