Influence of body image in postpartum depression: systematic review

Abstract

The global prevalence of postpartum depression is estimated to be between 10-20%, becoming a public health concern. Our society gives great importance to body image and, during pregnancy, no special attention is paid to body changes as they are understood to be an intrinsic experience of the mothering process. This study aimed to analyze the influence of body image in postpartum depression. After searching in four electronic databases, 16 articles were selected. The results showed a positive relationship between body dissatisfaction and postpartum depressive symptoms, that is, women with body dissatisfaction were more likely to suffer postpartum depression. Promoting body image satisfaction can be an interesting and effective resource for preventing postpartum depression.