title: Examining relationships between body dissatisfaction, maladaptive perfectionism, and postpartum depression symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore body dissatisfaction and maladaptive perfectionism as risk factors for postpartum depression symptomatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, cohort design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban and suburban hospital-based obstetrician and midwifery offices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six (46) adult ethnically diverse pregnant women with gestational age greater than or equal to 28 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body dissatisfaction and maladaptive perfectionism were assessed in the offices of health care providers during the third trimester of pregnancy. Postpartum depression symptomatology was assessed at least 2 months postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) via postal mail or e-mail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body dissatisfaction predicted postpartum depression symptoms, even after controlling for previously established risk factors. No main effect emerged between maladaptive perfectionism and postpartum depression symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Body dissatisfaction in the third trimester of pregnancy serves as a risk factor for postpartum depression. Therefore, assessment of body image during the third trimester of pregnancy may help health care providers identify women at risk of postpartum depression. Body dissatisfaction also may be an important target for postpartum depression prevention and treatment programs.
authors.forename: Alison C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fingerhut
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: body image; perfectionism; postpartum depression