Relationships among anxiety, mindful eating, and gestational weight change across pregnancy trimesters
- 1Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Lokman Hekim University, Ankara, Turkey; Corresponding author. Lokman Hekim University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetry Sogutozu, 06510, Ankara, Turkey
- 2Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Lokman Hekim University, Ankara, Turkey
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to examine trimester-specific relationships among anxiety, mindful eating, and gestational weight change and to compare anxiety and mindful eating across pregnancy trimesters and with non-pregnant women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among women who attended the Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic at Private Lokman Hekim Hospital between January and July 2023. A total of 280 participants were included, comprising 70 pregnant women in each trimester and 70 non-pregnant women, and were analyzed in four groups. Participants were assessed using the Mindful Eating Questionnaire-30 (MEQ-30) and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Anthropometric measurements were obtained directly by the researcher. Path analysis was conducted separately for each trimester to evaluate the direct and indirect relationships among anxiety, mindful eating subscales, and weight change. Results: State anxiety (STAI-1) differed significantly among the groups, whereas trait anxiety (STAI-2) did not. Significant between-group differences were also observed in total MEQ-30 scores and in the emotional eating, eating control, and interference subscales (p < 0.05). In the first trimester, STAI-1 was significantly and positively associated with conscious eating, whereas in the second trimester, it was significantly and negatively associated with impulsive eating, emotional eating, and interference (p < 0.05). No significant associations were observed between anxiety or mindful eating and gestational weight change (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The associations between state anxiety and specific dimensions of mindful eating varied across pregnancy trimesters. However, neither anxiety nor mindful eating was significantly associated with gestational weight change. These findings highlight the importance of considering trimester-specific patterns when examining the relationship between psychological factors and eating behaviors during pregnancy.
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BibTeX
@article{terzi2026relationships,
title = {{Relationships among anxiety, mindful eating, and gestational weight change across pregnancy trimesters}},
author = {Elif Terzi and Ozlem Baran and Ayhan Dag},
journal = {Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.cegh.2026.102507},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2026.102507},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Relationships among anxiety, mindful eating, and gestational weight change across pregnancy trimesters
AU - Elif Terzi
AU - Ozlem Baran
AU - Ayhan Dag
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health
DO - 10.1016/j.cegh.2026.102507
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2026.102507
AB - Aim: This study aimed to examine trimester-specific relationships among anxiety, mindful eating, and gestational weight change and to compare anxiety and mindful eating across pregnancy trimesters and with non-pregnant women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among women who attended the Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic at Private Lokman Hekim Hospital between January and July 2023. A total of 280 participants were included, comprising 70 pregnant women in each trimester and 70 non-pregnant women, and were analyzed in four groups. Participants were assessed using the Mindful Eating Questionnaire-30 (MEQ-30) and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Anthropometric measurements were obtained directly by the researcher. Path analysis was conducted separately for each trimester to evaluate the direct and indirect relationships among anxiety, mindful eating subscales, and weight change. Results: State anxiety (STAI-1) differed significantly among the groups, whereas trait anxiety (STAI-2) did not. Significant between-group differences were also observed in total MEQ-30 scores and in the emotional eating, eating control, and interference subscales (p < 0.05). In the first trimester, STAI-1 was significantly and positively associated with conscious eating, whereas in the second trimester, it was significantly and negatively associated with impulsive eating, emotional eating, and interference (p < 0.05). No significant associations were observed between anxiety or mindful eating and gestational weight change (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The associations between state anxiety and specific dimensions of mindful eating varied across pregnancy trimesters. However, neither anxiety nor mindful eating was significantly associated with gestational weight change. These findings highlight the importance of considering trimester-specific patterns when examining the relationship between psychological factors and eating behaviors during pregnancy.
SN - 2213-3984
SN - 2452-0918
ER -