The effect of the information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model variables on orthorexia nervosa behaviors of pregnant women

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to test the effect of the components of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model on Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) behavior of pregnant women and health outcomes using a hypothetical model. Methods The study is cross-sectional research and was carried out with 350 pregnant women who had the Non-Stress Test in the obstetrics outpatient clinic of a university hospital. The participants were selected using the convenience sampling method. The data were collected with a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the structural equation model. Results It was found that 26.6% of pregnant women had an ON tendency. High information for obsession with obsession with healthy eating causes more ON behaviors (β = – 0.25, p < 0.001). The higher motivation for obsession with healthy eating obsession (β = 0.73, p < 0.01) and a higher tendency to ON behaviors (β = – 0.16, p < 0.05) are associated with better health outcomes. Conclusion Our findings show that high levels of information and motivation about the obsession with healthy eating effect ON tendency and health outcomes. The findings are significant in that they lead and guide the interventions for the detection, prevention, and treatment of ON during pregnancy. Level of Evidence Level V, cross-sectional study