Compliance with dietary guidelines and relationship to psychosocial factors in low-income women in late postpartum.
OBJECTIVE
The goals were to evaluate compliance with the Dietary Guidelines among low-income women during late postpartum and to examine the relationship between psychosocial variables and dietary compliance.


METHODS
Participants were 146 triethnic, low-income women who were recruited 0 to 1 days after childbirth and who visited a clinic site at 1 year postpartum.


METHODS
At 1 year postpartum, multiple psychosocial characteristics were measured, and food choices and nutrient intakes were assessed via a validated food frequency questionnaire. Dietary guidelines index scores and measures of adherence to dietary recommendations were computed.


METHODS
Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance with post-hoc Scheffe tests, chi 2 with follow-up tests of independent proportions, and Pearson correlation coefficients were utilized.


RESULTS
For dietary compliance, 60% had adequate intakes of meat, but less than 30% met recommendations for grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy foods, total fat, and added sugar. Healthful weights (body mass index <25) were observed in 37% of women. Those in the highest tertile of dietary compliance had a more positive body image than those in the lowest tertile, and less neglect of self-care, weight-related distress, stress, depressive symptoms, and perceived barriers to weight loss ( P <.05). Dietary compliance and psychosocial scale scores did not vary by ethnicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence to dietary guidelines was limited in the low-income, postpartum women. Psychosocial variables, such as neglect of self-care, weight-related distress, negative body image, stress, and depressive symptoms were associated with less healthful diets and lifestyle in late postpartum. Programs that target diet-related behavior change in low-income women might be improved by inclusion of psychosocial assessment and counseling components.
George
Goldy C
GC
Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, USA.
Milani
Tracey J
TJ
Hanss-Nuss
Henry
H
Freeland-Graves
Jeanne H
JH
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011203:Poverty; D012649:Self Concept; D012923:Social Class; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data