Nulliparous Women’s Self-Objectification, Fear of Childbirth, and Fertility Intentions: A Mediational Model

Abstract

Childbearing entails complex biopsychosocial challenges that have important implications for women’s reproductive autonomy. Given that childbirth involves substantial bodily changes, body image concerns are increasingly relevant to understanding women’s reproductive psychology and fertility decision-making. In particular, fear of childbirth has been associated with lower fertility intentions among young, nulliparous women. Grounded in objectification theory, the present research examined whether self-objectification (internalized body surveillance rooted in appearance-based concerns) was associated with fertility intentions through fear of childbirth. Two complementary studies were conducted with Chinese nulliparous women aged 18–48 years (total N = 908): a cross-sectional survey (Study 1; n = 666, M_age = 26.46, SD = 4.23) and a randomized experiment (Study 2; n = 242, M_age = 26.16, SD = 4.89). In Study 1, self-objectification, fear of childbirth, and fertility intentions were assessed using validated measures. In Study 2, participants were randomly assigned to view either an objectifying video (designed to induce self-objectification) or a neutral control video, followed by assessments of fear of childbirth and fertility intentions. Across both studies, higher self-objectification was associated with greater fear of childbirth and lower fertility intentions. Mediation analyses indicated that fear of childbirth indirectly linked self-objectification to fertility intentions. These findings help connect objectification theory with reproductive psychology by highlighting body-image-related correlates of childbirth-related concerns. These findings also point to the potential value of social and psychological supports that promote young nulliparous women’s reproductive mental health and safeguard their reproductive autonomy.