BACKGROUND Although the occurrence of food cravings during pregnancy is well established, there is a paucity of qualitative data on pregnant women's perceptions of and responses to food cravings. This study sought to assess and describe pregnant women's experiences and behaviors pertaining to food cravings. METHODS Eight focus groups were conducted with 68 pregnant women in their second trimester from March 2015 to October 2016. Using a semistructured approach, the facilitator asked women open-ended questions regarding their experience of eating behaviors and food cravings. The content from the focus groups was analyzed using a bottom-up approach based on grounded theory and constant comparison analysis. RESULTS Participants described cravings as urgent, food-specific, and cognitively demanding occurrences that were differentiated from hunger. They described beliefs surrounding the physiological causes of cravings and rationales for satisfying their cravings. Strategies used to manage cravings included environmental modifications to limit proximity and availability of craved foods, cognitive and behavioral strategies like distraction, and acceptance through satisfying the craving. Participants described food cravings as a psychologically salient aspect of their pregnancy, reporting a variety of emotional precursors and reactions surrounding their cravings. CONCLUSIONS A better understanding of food cravings may assist with the development of interventions to improve eating behaviors and reduce eating-related distress during pregnancy. Acceptance regarding food cravings was indicated as a way to diffuse pregnancy-related stress. These findings contribute to our understanding of psychological influences on eating behaviors in pregnant women.

中文翻译：

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女性对孕期食物渴望的体验和理解：北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校接受产前护理的女性的定性研究

背景虽然在怀孕期间发生对食物的渴望已经得到充分证实，但缺乏关于孕妇对食物渴望的感知和反应的定性数据。本研究旨在评估和描述孕妇在渴望食物方面的经历和行为。方法 在 2015 年 3 月至 2016 年 10 月期间，对 68 名处于妊娠中期的孕妇进行了八个焦点小组。主持人使用半结构化方法向女性询问关于她们的饮食行为体验和食物渴望的开放式问题。使用基于扎根理论和不断比较分析的自下而上的方法分析焦点小组的内容。结果 参与者将渴望描述为紧急的、特定于食物的、以及与饥饿不同的认知需求事件。他们描述了围绕渴望的生理原因和满足他们的渴望的基本原理的信念。用于管理渴望的策略包括改变环境以限制渴望的食物的接近度和可用性，认知和行为策略，如分心，以及通过满足渴望来接受。参与者将食物渴望描述为他们怀孕的心理显着方面，报告了围绕他们的渴望的各种情绪前兆和反应。结论 更好地了解食物渴望可能有助于制定干预措施，以改善饮食行为并减少怀孕期间与饮食相关的痛苦。接受对食物的渴望被认为是一种缓解怀孕相关压力的方式。这些发现有助于我们了解心理对孕妇饮食行为的影响。