MINDFUL EATING BEHAVIORS, BODY IMAGE DISSATISFACTION, AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN SUFFERING FROM POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) stands as the predominant endocrine disorder among females, impacting approximately 4-18% of women in their reproductive years. Notably, the prevalence of PCOS among Pakistani women significantly surpasses that of their Western counterparts, reaching 52%, in contrast to the 20-25% prevalence observed among women in the UK. Objective: The objective of the current study was to find out the relationship between mindful eating behaviors, body image dissatisfaction, and quality of life among women suffering from PCOS. Methods: Cross-sectional research was conducted from October 2022 to August 2023 at the University of Management and Technology. Sample of women suffering from PCOS age ranged 18 to 40 years were recruited from different institutes, hospitals, and clinics, whereas online data was also collected through social media. The mindful eating behavior scale (α= .89), Body image dissatisfaction scale(α=.88), and Polycystic ovary syndrome quality of life scale (PCOSQOL) (α= .95) were used for assessment. Results: Out of 300 participants 150 (50%) were married and 150 (50%) were unmarried. The overall mean age of the sample was 29.16 years. Results revealed that mindful eating behaviors were found to be positively related to body image dissatisfaction (p<0.01), and body image dissatisfaction negatively related to quality of life (p<0.01). Furthermore, body image dissatisfaction significantly predicted the quality of life (p<0.01). Inter-group comparison of the marital status highlighted significant differences in married and unmarried women in terms of study variables (p<0.01). Conclusion: The study found that mindful eating behaviors are associated with body image dissatisfaction, which is related to poor quality of life in women with PCOS. Significant differences were observed between married and unmarried women regarding these variables. These results suggested that interventions focusing on body image and mindful eating may help improve the quality of life for women with PCOS.