Sociocultural pressures to pursue unrealistic appearance expectations and control body shape and weight during pregnancy and postpartum periods have been increasing. Little is known about messages from different sources that may constitute unhelpful or protective influences. The aim of this study was to qualitatively examine messages women received from the sociocultural environment during pregnancy and postpartum and their association with experiences of living in their bodies and body change behaviors. Twenty women, mean age = 31.85, (2.3) years, 95% White, 60% with a Master’s degree or higher, participated in individual interviews and completed online surveys. Women described appearance pressure from multiple sources during and after pregnancy, that increased their concerns related to their weight and shape. For a small number, these concerns were associated with efforts to control weight. Others described protective influences from friends and family that promoted body attunement, functionality appreciation, and positive body image. Findings highlight the importance of sociocultural influences during the peripregnancy period yet how many women derive elements of positive body image from this period. These findings have implications for interventions to support body image among women during the peripregnancy period and positive outcomes among mothers and infants.

中文翻译：

---

怀孕和产后期的社会文化压力和身体相关经历：一项定性研究

在怀孕和产后期间追求不切实际的外表期望以及控制体形和体重的社会文化压力一直在增加。对于来自不同来源的可能构成无益或保护性影响的信息知之甚少。本研究的目的是定性研究女性在怀孕和产后从社会文化环境中收到的信息及其与身体生活经历和身体变化行为的关系。20 名女性，平均年龄 = 31.85，(2.3) 岁，95% 是白人，60% 拥有硕士学位或更高学位，参与了个人访谈并完成了在线调查。女性描述了怀孕期间和怀孕后来自多种来源的外表压力，这增加了她们对体重和体形的担忧。对于少数人来说，这些担忧与控制体重的努力有关。其他人则描述了来自朋友和家人的保护性影响，这些影响促进了身体协调、功能欣赏和积极的身体形象。研究结果强调了围孕期社会文化影响的重要性，以及有多少女性从这一时期获得了积极的身体形象元素。这些发现对于支持围孕期女性身体形象的干预措施以及母亲和婴儿的积极结果具有重要意义。