{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,15]],"date-time":"2026-06-15T10:28:34Z","timestamp":1781519314075,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,24]],"date-time":"2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740355200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Special Account for Research Grants of the University of West Attica"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nursing Reports"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: This study explores the effect of pregnancy weight gain, acceptance of body changes, and breastfeeding difficulties on mothers\u2019 self-esteem and body appreciation during the postpartum period. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 puerperae (at 2nd day postpartum), during August 2022\u2013March 2023 in Paralimni\/Cyprus, with exclusion criteria being the presence of postpartum depression. The Body Appreciation Scale\u2014BAS\u2014was administrated in order to investigate the level of body appreciation, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale\u2014RSES-10\u2014was used for assessing self-esteem. Results: Findings indicated that the higher the pregnancy weight gain (r = \u22120.293), the lower the measured levels of the mothers\u2019 self-esteem and body appreciation are (r = \u22120.292). Mothers whose level of acceptance of body changes was low to moderate appeared to demonstrate lower self-esteem (p = 0.027) and lower body appreciation (p &lt; 0.001) at two days postpartum. Also, mothers who had breastfeeding difficulties at two days postpartum seem to demonstrate lower self-esteem (p = 0.032), and increased support from their husbands in terms of breastfeeding is associated with higher levels of mothers\u2019 self-esteem (r = 0.235). Additionally, greater support for breastfeeding, both in the clinic (r = 0.314) and from their husbands (r = 0.290), appears to be linked to higher levels of body appreciation. The psychological influence of pregnancy weight gain (\u03b2 = \u22120.236, p = 0.04) and breastfeeding difficulties (\u03b2 = \u22120.284, p = 0.008) appeared to be predictors of mothers\u2019 self-esteem at two days postpartum. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for further research in areas including mothers\u2019 body image and self-esteem and breastfeeding difficulties and further longitudinal studies to determine the exact nature of the pathways involved.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nursrep15030076","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,25]],"date-time":"2025-02-25T07:45:08Z","timestamp":1740469508000},"page":"76","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Mothers\u2019 Body Appreciation and Postpartum Self-Esteem in Relation to Body Changes and Breastfeeding Difficulties: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Cyprus"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Anastasia","family":"Kalli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Midwifery Care During Antenatal and Post Natal Period\u2014Breastfeeding, Department of Midwifery, School of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0891-040X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Iliadou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Midwifery Care During Antenatal and Post Natal Period\u2014Breastfeeding, Department of Midwifery, School of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6500-5043","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ermioni","family":"Palaska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Midwifery Care During Antenatal and Post Natal Period\u2014Breastfeeding, Department of Midwifery, School of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sevasti","family":"Louverdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Midwifery Care During Antenatal and Post Natal Period\u2014Breastfeeding, Department of Midwifery, School of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Calliope","family":"Dagla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Midwifery Care During Antenatal and Post Natal Period\u2014Breastfeeding, Department of Midwifery, School of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7458-7500","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eirini","family":"Orovou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Midwifery, School of Health and Care Sciences, University of Western Macedonia, 54636 Kozani, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4871-999X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Dagla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Midwifery Care During Antenatal and Post Natal Period\u2014Breastfeeding, Department of Midwifery, School of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2003). Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, World Health Organization."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1097\/MOP.0000000000000389","article-title":"Long-term neurodevelopmental benefits of breastfeeding","volume":"28","author":"Bar","year":"2016","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1177\/1010539515624964","article-title":"The long-term public health benefits of breastfeeding","volume":"28","author":"Binns","year":"2016","journal-title":"Asia Pac. J. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"354","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0038-1657766","article-title":"Breastfeeding and the benefits of lactation for women\u2019s health","volume":"40","author":"Ciampo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Rev. Bras. Ginecol. Obs."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"475","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(15)01024-7","article-title":"Breastfeeding in the 21st century: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect","volume":"387","author":"Victora","year":"2016","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2019). Global Breastfeeding Scorecard, 2019: Increasing Commitment to Breastfeeding Through Funding and Improved Policies and Programmes, World Health Organization."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1089\/bfm.2019.0180","article-title":"The associations between breastfeeding duration and body dissatisfaction, ethnicity, and obesity among Mexican women, a cross-sectional study, ENSANUT 2012","volume":"15","author":"Bigman","year":"2020","journal-title":"Breastfeed. Med."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2014.06.003","article-title":"Body image concerns during pregnancy are associated with a shorter breastfeeding duration","volume":"31","author":"Brown","year":"2015","journal-title":"Midwifery"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"480","DOI":"10.1038\/s41430-017-0073-y","article-title":"Prepregnancy weight excess and cessation of exclusive breastfeeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"72","author":"Flores","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"836","DOI":"10.3109\/14767058.2015.1020786","article-title":"Body image in breastfeeding women with depressive symptoms: A prospective study","volume":"29","author":"Zanardo","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Matern. Fetal Neonatal Med."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.1080\/02646838.2019.1710119","article-title":"A qualitative insight into the relationship between postpartum depression and body image","volume":"39","author":"Hartley","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Reprod. Infant. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"437","DOI":"10.1590\/1413-81232017222.23182015","article-title":"Body image, eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem and anxiety in pregnant women of Juiz de fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil","volume":"22","author":"Meireles","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ci\u00eancia Sa\u00fade Coletiva"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"284","DOI":"10.1177\/0890334418797312","article-title":"Weight-related concerns as barriers to exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months","volume":"35","author":"Zimmerman","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Hum. Lact."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"935","DOI":"10.1038\/ejcn.2016.29","article-title":"Antenatal breastfeeding intention, confidence and comfort in obese and non-obese primiparous Australian women: Associations with breastfeeding duration","volume":"70","author":"Newby","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"788","DOI":"10.12968\/bjom.2014.22.11.788","article-title":"Women\u2019s experiences of body image and baby feeding choices: Dealing with the pressure to be slender","volume":"22","author":"Fern","year":"2014","journal-title":"Br. J. Midwifery"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schalla, S.C., Witcomb, G.L., and Haycraft, E. (2017). Body shape and weight loss as motivators for breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph14070754"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bodyim.2017.12.001","article-title":"Exploring the tripartite influence model of body dissatisfaction in postpartum women","volume":"24","author":"Lovering","year":"2018","journal-title":"Body Image"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"793","DOI":"10.1080\/10410236.2017.1314853","article-title":"The effect of media on body image in pregnant and postpartum women","volume":"33","author":"Coyne","year":"2018","journal-title":"Health Commun."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Davanzo, R. (2018). Controversies in breastfeeding. Front. Pediatr., 6.","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2018.00278"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2017.12.001","article-title":"The role of fathers during breastfeeding","volume":"58","author":"Demontigny","year":"2018","journal-title":"Midwifery"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"759","DOI":"10.1111\/jhn.12496","article-title":"Breastfeeding as a public health responsibility: A review of the evidence","volume":"30","author":"Brown","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Hum. Nutr. Diet."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"1749","article-title":"Factors affecting Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of birth: An Exploratory-Descriptive Study","volume":"7","author":"Nasrabadi","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Midwifery Reprod. Health"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1177\/0890334408326071","article-title":"Exploring the influence of psychological factors on breastfeeding duration, phase 1: Perceptions of mothers and clinicians","volume":"25","author":"Buikstra","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Hum. Lact."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"25","article-title":"An analysis of personal and social factors influencing initiation and duration of breastfeeding in a large Queensland maternity hospital","volume":"8","author":"Turner","year":"2000","journal-title":"Breastfeed. Rev."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.29252\/ijhehp.7.4.343","article-title":"Comparing the Effectiveness of Group Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy on Self, Cognitive-Emotional Regulation and NonSuicidal Self-Injury in Daughters","volume":"7","author":"Yasfard","year":"2019","journal-title":"Iran. J. Health Educ. Prom."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"268","DOI":"10.1177\/0890334408316075","article-title":"The influence of adolescent mothers\u2019 breastfeeding confidence and attitudes on breastfeeding initiation and duration","volume":"24","author":"Mossman","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Hum. Lact."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"285","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bodyim.2005.06.002","article-title":"The Body Appreciation Scale: Development and psychometric evaluation","volume":"2","author":"Avalos","year":"2005","journal-title":"Body Image"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-78787-5_13","article-title":"The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Translation and Validation in the Greek Language in Adolescents","volume":"1339","author":"Kourakou","year":"2021","journal-title":"Adv. Exp. Med. Biol."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"436","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0001-6349.2005.00732.x","article-title":"Childbirth and parenthood education classes in Sweden. Women\u2019s opinion and possible outcomes","volume":"84","author":"Fabian","year":"2005","journal-title":"Acta Obs. Gynecol. Scand."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"142","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2016.03.010","article-title":"Prevalence and risk factors for comorbid postpartum depressive symptomatology and anxiety","volume":"198","author":"Shiri","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Affect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"202","article-title":"Comparing the effects of \u201chands-on\u201d and \u201chands-off\u201d educational techniques on exclusive breastfeeding among primiparous mothers","volume":"12","author":"Baghany","year":"2013","journal-title":"Life Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3097","DOI":"10.1080\/14767058.2019.1568986","article-title":"Investigation of the relationship between social support and breastfeeding self-efficacy in primiparous breastfeeding mothers","volume":"33","author":"Amel","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Matern. Fetal Neonatal Med."},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"36","article-title":"Investigation the relationship between self-esteem and breastfeeding self-efficacy in primiparous breastfeeding mothers referring to Mashhad medical centres","volume":"5","author":"Sharifi","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Health Lit."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2014.06.009","article-title":"A longitudinal study of the effect of psychosocial factors on exclusive breastfeeding duration","volume":"31","author":"Broadbent","year":"2015","journal-title":"Midwifery"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"557","DOI":"10.1111\/bjhp.12246","article-title":"Does body image influence the relationship between body weight and breastfeeding maintenance in new mothers?","volume":"22","author":"Swanson","year":"2017","journal-title":"Br. J. Health Psych."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"860","DOI":"10.12968\/bjom.2012.20.12.860","article-title":"Women\u2019s experiences of body image and weight loss after childbirth","volume":"20","author":"Fern","year":"2012","journal-title":"Br. J. Midwifery"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0730-7659.2004.00303.x","article-title":"Body image, maternal-fetal attachment, and choice of infant feeding method: A study in Taiwan","volume":"31","author":"Huang","year":"2004","journal-title":"Birth"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"163","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2018.04.007","article-title":"A biopsychosocial model of body image, disordered eating, and breastfeeding among postpartum women","volume":"126","author":"Rodgers","year":"2018","journal-title":"Appetite"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"429","DOI":"10.1007\/s11199-007-9194-4","article-title":"Indecent exposure: Self-objectification and young women\u2019s attitudes toward breastfeeding","volume":"56","author":"Wares","year":"2007","journal-title":"Sex Roles"}],"container-title":["Nursing Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2039-4403\/15\/3\/76\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T16:41:26Z","timestamp":1760028086000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2039-4403\/15\/3\/76"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,24]]},"references-count":39,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3]]}},"alternative-id":["nursrep15030076"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nursrep15030076","relation":{},"ISSN":["2039-4403"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2039-4403","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,24]]}}}