{"title":"Global self-esteem, components of self-esteem and identity integration in pregnant and non-pregnant women.","authors":"Paulina Banaszkiewicz, Karolina Górnik-Horn","doi":"10.1080/02646838.2026.2692960","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Earlier studies focusing on global self-esteem in pregnant women have identified a number of risk factors for low global self-esteem and have compared global self-esteem during pregnancy and after childbirth. However, there is a lack of research on the specific self-esteem components except for body image. This study compared global self-esteem, specific self-esteem components, and identity integration in pregnant and non-pregnant women, and examined selected correlates of these variables.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 394 women: 285 non-pregnant women aged 18-65 (<i>M</i> = 34.93; SD = 9.23), and 109 pregnant women aged 22-41 (<i>M</i> = 30.49; SD = 3.50). The assessments were performed using the Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory developed by O'Brien and Epstein, and enabling measurement of global self-esteem, eight specific self-esteem components, and identity integration. Independent-samples t tests and correlational analyses were used, with supplementary ANCOVAs adjusting for age, BMI, and motherhood history.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pregnant women scored higher than non-pregnant women on global self-esteem, identity integration, and several specific self-esteem components. After adjustment, pregnancy status remained significant for global self-esteem, competence, lovability, likeability, moral self-approval, and identity integration, but not for body appearance, body functioning, or self-control. In the pregnant group, higher pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with less favourable body-related self-evaluations, self-control, and defensiveness. Pre-pregnancy physical activity was associated with higher body appearance, self-control, likeability, and body functioning.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The present study suggests there are significant differences in self-esteem and identity integration between pregnant and non-pregnant women and highlights the importance of multidimensional measurement of self-esteem in pregnant women.</p>","PeriodicalId":47721,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2026.2692960","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Earlier studies focusing on global self-esteem in pregnant women have identified a number of risk factors for low global self-esteem and have compared global self-esteem during pregnancy and after childbirth. However, there is a lack of research on the specific self-esteem components except for body image. This study compared global self-esteem, specific self-esteem components, and identity integration in pregnant and non-pregnant women, and examined selected correlates of these variables.
Methods: The study included 394 women: 285 non-pregnant women aged 18-65 (M = 34.93; SD = 9.23), and 109 pregnant women aged 22-41 (M = 30.49; SD = 3.50). The assessments were performed using the Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory developed by O'Brien and Epstein, and enabling measurement of global self-esteem, eight specific self-esteem components, and identity integration. Independent-samples t tests and correlational analyses were used, with supplementary ANCOVAs adjusting for age, BMI, and motherhood history.
Results: Pregnant women scored higher than non-pregnant women on global self-esteem, identity integration, and several specific self-esteem components. After adjustment, pregnancy status remained significant for global self-esteem, competence, lovability, likeability, moral self-approval, and identity integration, but not for body appearance, body functioning, or self-control. In the pregnant group, higher pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with less favourable body-related self-evaluations, self-control, and defensiveness. Pre-pregnancy physical activity was associated with higher body appearance, self-control, likeability, and body functioning.
Discussion: The present study suggests there are significant differences in self-esteem and identity integration between pregnant and non-pregnant women and highlights the importance of multidimensional measurement of self-esteem in pregnant women.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology reports and reviews outstanding research on psychological, behavioural, medical and social aspects of human reproduction, pregnancy and infancy. Medical topics focus on obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and psychiatry. The growing work in relevant aspects of medical communication and medical sociology are also covered. Relevant psychological work includes developmental psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, behavioural medicine, psychology of women and health psychology. Research into psychological aspects of midwifery, health visiting and nursing is central to the interests of the Journal. The Journal is of special value to those concerned with interdisciplinary issues. As a result, the Journal is of particular interest to those concerned with fundamental processes in behaviour and to issues of health promotion and service organization.
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