Body understanding measure for pregnancy scale (BUMPS): Psychometric properties and predictive validity with postpartum anxiety, depression and body appreciation among Italian peripartum women

Abstract

Pregnancy is a unique phase in a woman's life marked by profound physical transformations, including changes in body shape and weight. The Body Understanding Measure for Pregnancy Scale (BUMPs) was designed to assess body image during pregnancy. Despite its increasing use, the scale has not yet been adapted into Italian, and evidence regarding its predictive validity with respect to anxiety, depression, and body appreciation is lacking. This study aimed to address these gaps to validate the Italian BUMPs and test its predictive validity. A community sample of 726 Italian pregnant women was recruited (age range 18–48, M_age= 31.3 ± 4.79). Participants completed a translated BUMPs and other self-report questionnaires assessing anxiety, depression, and body appreciation. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a three-factor structure for the BUMPs, with dimensions assessing Satisfaction with Appearing Pregnant, Weight Gain Concerns, and Physical Burdens of Pregnancy. BUMPs subscales demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (ω = 0.765–0.866). Cross-sectional analysis revealed that BUMPs scores correlated with anxiety (r range from 0.25 to 0.32), depression (r range from 0.31 to 0.34), and gestational body mass index (r range from 0.18 to 0.37). Longitudinal analysis associated BUMPs with anxiety, depression, and body appreciation measured after childbirth, providing evidence of predictive validity. Overall, the present study supports the BUMPs as a valid and reliable tool for assessing body image during pregnancy within the Italian context. Additionally, it provides the first evidence of the BUMPs' predictive validity for postpartum mental health outcomes and body appreciation after childbirth.