Compensatory health beliefs in women in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy

BACKGROUND Compensatory health beliefs may serve as one of many selfregulatory strategies that individuals employ to maintain healthy lifestyles. Past research with samples from a general population has shown, however, that compensatory beliefs are ineffective in this regard and may even lead to inaction in future health-related behaviors such as eating healthily or being active. To better understand this phenomenon, in the present study, changes in compensatory health beliefs regarding various life domains were examined in a group of pregnant women. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE In a longitudinal study design, 166 women completed questionnaires in the first (t1), the second (t2), and the third (t3) trimester of their pregnancies. We assessed the level of their self-control as a trait (t1, t2, t3), compensatory health beliefs (t1, t2, t3), and unhealthy snacking (t3). RESULTS As predicted, self-control as a trait decreased and the levels of compensatory beliefs increased over time. A linear mixed effects analysis showed that self-control was the best predictor of compensatory beliefs in the third trimester. Finally, compensatory health beliefs in the third trimester mediated the effect of self-control at the beginning of pregnancy on unhealthy snacking in the third trimester. CONCLUSIONS It appears important to support pregnant women in opting for constructive self-regulatory strategies, especially in their final trimesters, when coping resources are exhausted by the challenges of this period.