This study aimed to develop the Japanese version of the Pregnancy and Weight Gain Attitude Scale (J-PWGAS) as a measurement of body image regarding body weight and shape during pregnancy. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a perinatal medical center in Osaka, Japan, between March and November 2020. We recruited pregnant women in their second or third trimester, who were 20 years old or older and without pregnancy complications. This study evaluated the criterion validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Of the participants, 218 and 102 women participated in the validation and test-retest reliability studies, respectively. An exploratory factor analysis revealed a 17-item, five-factor structure. The J-PWGAS indicated acceptable criterion validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. The J-PWGAS can measure attitudes toward gestational weight gain in Japanese pregnant women and would be useful in examining the association of body image with weight gain and psychological status during pregnancy.
AizawaS (2007) Maternal weight gain and neonatal outcomes. Japanese Journal of Maternal Health48(1): 114–121. (in Japanese)
2.
AoyamaMAkahoriCUegakiA, et al. (2018) Actual situation of 36-week pregnant women’s perception of weight gain. Aijinkai Medical Journal49: 82–83. (in Japanese)
3.
BlencoweHKrasevecJOnisM, et al. (2019) National, regional, and worldwide estimates of low birthweight in 2015, with trends from 2000: A systematic analysis. The Lancet Global Health7(7): e849–e860.
4.
ClarkMOgdenJ (1999) The impact of pregnancy on eating behaviour and aspects of weight concern. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders23(1): 18–24.
5.
CooperPJTaylorMJCooperZ, et al. (1987) The development and validation of the Body Shape Questionnaire. International Journal of Eating Disorders6(4): 485–494.
6.
CoxJLHoldenJMSagovskyR (1987) Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. The British Journal of Psychiatry150: 782–786.
7.
DipietroJAMilletSCostiganKA, et al. (2003) Psychosocial influences on weight gain attitudes and behaviors during pregnancy. Journal of the American Dietetic Association103(10): 1314–1319.
8.
FoxPYamaguchiC (1997) Body image change in pregnancy: A comparison of normal weight and overweight primigravidas. Birth24(1): 35–40.
9.
FujiseT (2003) Comparison of the body images between Japanese and Caucasian female students. The Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine52: 421–432. (in Japanese)
10.
GrothSWMorrison-BeedyDMengY (2012) How pregnant African American women view pregnancy weight gain. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing41(6): 798–808.
11.
GuilfordJP (1956) Fundamental Statistics in Psychology and Education. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
12.
Guzman-OrtizECardenas-VillarrealVMde la RubiaJM, et al. (2019) Psychometric properties of the Scale of Attitudes towards Pregnancy and Weight Gain in Mexican population. Salud Mental42(5): 217–225.
13.
HanZLutsivOMullaS, et al. (2011) Low gestational weight gain and the risk of preterm birth and low birthweight: A systematic review and meta-analyses. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica90(9): 935–954.
14.
HashimotoKUchidaWFunabashiT (2005) Exercise and body image. The Japanese Journal of Physical Therapy39(12): 1059–1064. (in Japanese)
15.
HayashiISuzukiMNoseY, et al. (2017) Association of pre-pregnancy body mass index and perceived body size with GWG in Japanese pregnant women. Journal of Japan Society for the Study of Obesity25: 233–240. (in Japanese)
16.
HebertKMMoore SimasTAOkwaraNC, et al. (2019) Is perception of excessive weight gain in a woman’s last pregnancy associated with less weight gain in her current pregnancy?Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology39(1): 138–139.
17.
HillBHaydenMMcPhieS, et al. (2019) Preconception and antenatal knowledge and beliefs about GWG. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology59(5): 634–640.
18.
HillBSkouterisHMcCabeM, et al. (2013) Body image and GWG: A prospective study. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health58(2): 189–194.
19.
HillIFAngrishKNutterS, et al. (2023) Exploring body dissatisfaction in pregnancy and the association with gestational weight gain, obesity, and weight stigma. Midwifery119: 103627.
20.
HiramitsuKEndoT (2005) The association between body image and weight gain in pregnant women. Journal of Yamanashi Maternal Health4(1): 28–34. (in Japanese)
21.
Japan Society for the Study of Obesity (2011) Obesity diagnostic criteria 2011. Journal of Japan Society for the Study of Obesity17: 1–8. (in Japanese)
22.
KandaTMurai-TakedaAKawabeH, et al. (2020) Low birth weight trends: Possible impacts on the prevalences of hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Hypertension Research43: 859–868.
23.
KobayashiYTachiTMurotsuK, et al. (2001) Clinical trial of Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) in eating disorder patients; Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of BSQ. Japanese Journal of Clinical Psychiatry30(12): 1501–1508. (in Japanese)
24.
KonophBCTorgersenLVonHA, et al. (2011) Factors associated with binge eating disorder in pregnancy. International Journal of Eating Disorders44(2): 124–133.
25.
LedermanRLedermanE (1996) Methods of assessment. In: LedermanRP (ed.) Psychosocial Adaptation in Pregnancy: Assessment of Seven Dimension Development, 2nd edn.New York, NY: Springer, pp.274–308.
26.
LothKABauerKWWallM, et al. (2011) Body satisfaction during pregnancy. Body Image8(3): 297–300.
27.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2006) Dietary guidelines for expectant and nursing mothers – [Sukoyaka Oyako 21] Report of the Study Group on Promotion–. Available at: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/houdou/2006/02/h0201-3a.html (Accessed March 4, 2024).
MokkinkLBTerweeCBPatrickDL, et al. (2010) The COSMIN checklist for assessing the methodological quality of studies on measurement properties of health status measurement instruments: An international Delphi study. Quality of Life Research19(4): 539–549.
31.
OkamotoNHosonoAShibataK, et al. (2017) Accuracy of self-reported height, weight and waist circumference in a Japanese sample. Obesity Science & Practice3(4): 417–424.
32.
OkanoTMurataMMasuchiS, et al. (1996) Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Questionnaire (EPDS)Archives of Psychiatric Diagnostics and Clinical Evaluation7(4): 525–533.
33.
OliboniCMGallettaMAFranciscoRP, et al. (2014) Cross-cultural adaptation of the Pregnancy and Weight Gain Attitude Scale. Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia36(7): 320–327.
34.
PalmerJLJenningsGEMasseyL (1985) Development of an assessment form: Attitude toward weight gain during pregnancy. Journal of the American Dietetic Association85(8): 946–949.
35.
RoomruangwongCKanchanatawanBSirivichayakulS, et al. (2017) High incidence of body image dissatisfaction in pregnancy and the postnatal period: Associations with depression, anxiety, body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare13: 103–109.
36.
RousseauABouillonALefebvreL, et al. (2016) Corporal image and pregnancy: A look at psychometric properties of the French translation of the Pregnancy and Weigh Gain Attitude Scale. L’encephale42(4): 333–339.
37.
SecordPFJourardSM (1953) The appraisal of body-cathexis: Body-cathexis and the self. Journal of Consulting Psychology17(5): 343–347.
38.
SilveiraMLErtelKADoleN, et al. (2015) The role of body image in prenatal and postpartum depression: A critical review of the literature. Archives of Women’s Mental Health18(3): 409–421.
39.
SkouterisHCarrRWertheimEH, et al. (2005) A prospective study of factors that lead to body dissatisfaction during pregnancy. Body Image2: 347–361.
40.
TabataCHashiKKurokawaY (2015) Thin pregnant women’s perceptions of weight gain and changes in body shape. In: The 45th proceedings of the Japanese Nursing Association: Health promotion, pp.82–85. (in Japanese)
41.
TakatsuMKunikiyoKHayashiK, et al. (2013) Motives and burdens associated with health behaviors of pregnant women expecting their first child. The Kitakanto Medical Journal63(1): 33–44. (in Japanese)
42.
TakimotoHMitsuishiCKatoN (2011) Attitudes toward pregnancy related changes and self-judged dieting behavior. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition20(2): 212–219.
43.
TavakolMDennickR (2011) Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. International Journal of Medical Education2: 53–55.
44.
WalterECEhlenbachWJHotchkinDL, et al. (2009) Low birth weight and respiratory disease in adulthood: A population-based case-control study. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine180(2): 176–180.
45.
WatsonBFuller-Tyszkiewicz BroadbentJ, et al. (2017) Development and validation of tailored measure of body image for pregnant women. Psychological Assessment29(11): 1363–1375.
46.
WhitakerKMWilcoxSLiuJ, et al. (2016) Pregnant women’s perceptions of weight gain, physical activity, and nutrition using Theory of Planned Behavior constructs. Journal of Behavioral Medicine39(1): 41–54.
47.
WildDGroveAMartinM, et al. (2005) Principles of Good Practice for the Translation and Cultural Adaptation Process for Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO) Measures: Report of the ISPOR Task Force for Translation and Cultural Adaptation. Value Health8(2): 94–104.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
