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Eating behavior during pregnancy mediates the association between depression and diet quality--a new strategy for intervention in pregnancy

Authors :
Xingyi Jin
Jian Zhu
Niannian Wang
Lingzhen Sun
Junhui Yu
Shaokang Wang
Guiju Sun
Source :
Frontiers in Public Health, Vol 12 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2024.

Abstract

BackgroundDepression can result in changes in eating behavior and decrease the quality of eating. It has been shown that maternal depression during pregnancy can result in malnutrition, which can have adverse effects on the pregnancy and the offspring. There is currently no clear association between depression and diet.MethodsFive hundred and forty-nine pregnant women recruited from Danyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Jiangsu Province participated in this study and were administered the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), Edinburgh Post-natal Depression Scale (EPDS), Pregnancy Stress Scale (PPS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Dietary Guidelines Adherence Index for Pregnant Women during Pregnancy (CDGCI-PW). The nutritional software collected dietary records for three consecutive days in mid-pregnancy to calculate dietary intake and nutrients that support energy production. The mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS 24.0 macro PROCESS.ResultsThe relationship between depressive symptoms during pregnancy and diet quality was moderated primarily by two aspects of eating behavior, “Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues” (RHS) and “Body-Food Choice Congruence” (BFC). Depressive symptoms (EPDS scores) showed a negative correlation with RHS, BFC, and RHS, and BFC showed a positive correlation with diet quality, yielding a significant specific indirect effect. The multiple mediation model explained 14.7% of the variance in the diet quality.ConclusionThis study highlights the important role of eating behaviors during pregnancy in the relationship between depressive symptoms (EPDS scores) and diet quality, and provides preliminary evidence for feasible ways pregnant women with depressive symptoms can improve diet quality, promote maternal and child health, and reduce depression.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22962565
Volume :
12
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Public Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.b655b366f2534882986dbb3148591b3b
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1339149