Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40123174›Full record

ArticleHealth promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals2025

I've Grown a Human, but I Don't Feel Like 'Me' Anymore: Body Image Narratives in Early Motherhood in Australia.

Megan F Lee, Jodie Muldoon, Riven Grant, Sofia McAuley, Kathryn Bolton, Michayla Allan, Karena J Burke

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Megan F LeeFaculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7531-5312
Jodie MuldoonFaculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7979-4546
Riven GrantFaculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Sofia McAuleyFaculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Kathryn BoltonSchool of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4653-4548
Michayla AllanSchool of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5125-2040
Karena J BurkeFaculty of Health, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9376-965X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe postpartum period can be a wonderful time for women as they embark on motherhood. However, this time is not without its surprises and challenges as new mothers support the life of another and navigate the physical and psychological changes they experience. This transformation period can often negatively impact body image and self-esteem, which can lead to further adverse health outcomes for mothers and children.

methodsThis research employs a qualitative design of semi-structured interviews with 20 Australian mothers with at least one child under four.

resultsUsing reflexive thematic analysis, our study identified three key themes: (i) navigating expectation vs experience: Physical and psychological transformations in the postpartum, (ii) navigating body image in a socially influenced world, and (iii) navigating well-being in a busy world: Balancing self-care and external demands.

conclusionsThe results highlight the influence of societal thin ideals on mothers' eating attitudes, the crucial role of support networks serving as protective factors against body image concerns, and the need for enhanced education and preparation to guide women through this transformative period. SO WHAT?: The findings shed light on the lived experiences of postpartum women, providing valuable insights into the complex interplay of body image, eating attitudes, and self-care practices, sharing information for healthcare and support interventions, aiming to improve overall health and well-being for mothers.

Indexed as

Body ImageMothersPostpartum PeriodAdultAustraliaFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicQualitative ResearchSelf ConceptSocial SupportYoung Adultbody imageeating attitudesmotherspostpartumself‐esteem

Identifiers

PMID40123174
PMCPMC11931269

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.