This study explored appearance-related images and messages present in pregnancy magazines (e.g. Fit Pregnancy, Pregnancy & Newborn, and Pregnancy Magazine). A substantial portion of advertisements and articles promoted appearance-related products or products for postpartum weight loss. Health messages and messages related to diet and exercise were also present. Images also sexualized pregnant women’s bodies. Appearance-related messages aimed toward pregnant women may be problematic and may contribute to body dissatisfaction in these women.
AubreyJS (2006) Exposure to sexually-objectifying media and body self-perceptions among college women: An examination of the selective exposure hypothesis and the role of moderating variables. Sex Roles55(3–4): 159–172.
2.
BagheriMDorostyASadrzadeh-YeganehHet al. (2013) Pre-pregnancy body size dissatisfaction and excessive gestational weight gain. Maternal and Child Health Journal17: 699–707.
3.
BishCLChuSYShapiro-MendozaCKet al. (2008) Trying to lose or maintain weight during pregnancy-United States, 2003. Maternal and Child Health Journal13: 286–292.
4.
CalogeroRMThompsonJK (2009) Potential implications of the objectification of women’s bodies for women’s sexual satisfaction. Body Image6(2): 145–148.
5.
DownsSDDinalloJMKirnerTL (2008) Determinants of pregnancy and postpartum depression: Prospective influences of depressive symptoms, body image satisfaction, and exercise behavior. Annals of Behavioral Medicine36: 54–63.
6.
DuncombeDWertheimEHSkouterisHet al. (2008) How well do women adapt to changes in their body size and shape across the course of pregnancy?Journal of Health Psychology13(4): 503–515.
7.
FieldT (2011) Prenatal depression effects on early development: A review. Infant Behavior and Development34(1): 1–14.
8.
FoxPYamaguchiC (1997) Body image change in pregnancy: A comparison of normal weight and overweight primigravidas. Birth24(1): 35–40.
9.
GoodwinAAstburyJMcMeekenJ (2000) Body image and psychological well-being in pregnancy. A comparison of exercisers and non-exercisers. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology40(4): 442–447.
10.
GowRWLydeckerJALamannaJDet al. (2012) Representations of celebrities’ weight and shape during pregnancy and postpartum: A content analysis of three entertainment magazine websites. Body Image9: 172–175.
11.
GrabeSWardLMShibley HydeJ (2008) The role of the media in body image concerns among women: A meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. Psychological Bulletin134(3): 460–476.
12.
GroeszLMLevineMPMurnenSK (2002) The effect of experimental presentation of thin media messages on body satisfaction: A meta-analytic review. International Journal of Eating Disorders31: 1–16.
13.
KarazsiaBTvan DulmenMHMWongKet al. (2013) Thinking meta-theoretically about the role of internalization in the development of body dissatisfaction and body change behaviors. Body Image10(4): 433–441.
14.
López-GulmeràGLevineMPSánchez-CarracedoDet al. (2010) Influence of mass media on body image and eating disordered attitudes and behaviors in females: A review of effects and processes. Media Psychology13(4): 387–416.
15.
MalkinARWornianKChrislerJC (1999) Women and weight: Gendered messages on magazine covers. Sex Roles40(7–8): 647–655.
16.
MillsSDHTannerLMAdamsJ (2013) Systematic literature review of the effects of food and drink advertising on food and drink-related behaviour, attitudes and beliefs in adult populations. Obesity Reviews14(4): 303–314.
17.
O’Brien HallsteinDL (2011) She gives birth, she’s wearing a bikini: Mobilizing the postpregnant celebrity mom body to manage the post-second wave crisis in femininity. Women’s Studies in Communication34: 111–138.
18.
RoseIDFriedmanDBMarquezDXet al. (2013) What are older Latinos told about physical activity and cognition? A content analysis of a top-circulating magazine. Journal of Aging and Health25(7): 1143–1158.
19.
RothHHomerCFenwickJ (2012) “Bouncing back”: How Australia’s leading women’s magazines portray the postpartum “body.”Women and Birth25: 128–134.
20.
RubinLRSteinbergJR (2011) Self-objectification and Pregnancy: Are body functionality dimensions protective?Sex Roles65: 606–618.
21.
ShloimNHetheringtonMMRudolfMet al. (2015) Relationship between body mass index and women’s body image, self-esteem, & eating behaviors in pregnancy: A cross-cultural study. Journal of Health Psychology20(4): 413–426.
22.
StankiewiczJMRosselliF (2008) Women as sex objects and victims in print advertisements. Sex Roles58: 579–589.
23.
SumnerAWallerGKillickSet al. (1993) Body image distortion in pregnancy: A pilot study of the effects of media images. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology11: 203–208.
24.
TiggemannMZaccardoM (2015) “Exercise to be fit, not skinny”: The effect of fitspiration imagery on women’s body image. Body Image15: 61–67.
25.
VandenboschLEggermontS (2012) Understanding sexual objectification: A comprehensive approach toward media exposure and girls’ internalization of beauty ideals, self-objectification and body surveillance. Journal of Communication62(5): 869–887.
