Overcoming Barriers to Physical Activity During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: The Potential Impact of Social Support

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher P. Connolly ◽  
Deborah L. Feltz ◽  
James M. Pivarnik
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Postpartum Period ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Postpartum Women ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Barriers To Physical Activity

Pregnant and postpartum women have reported a number of barriers that prevent them from being sufficiently physically active. Overcoming these barriers is critical to ensure the health benefits of physical activity to both mother and fetus. The primary focus of this review centers on the potential impact social support may have in overcoming each of the primary barriers to physical activity experienced during pregnancy and the postpartum period. A reasonable body of research exists regarding the relationships between social support and these barriers; however, few investigations have specifically attempted to mitigate the effects of these barriers via social support interventions. Within this review, the enabling influence of social support as it pertains to pregnant and postpartum women's physical activity is discussed. Recommendations are suggested for the application of social support in future research investigations involving physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum.

A Meta-Study of Qualitative Research on Social Support Related to Physical Activity Among Older Adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
L. Jayne Beselt ◽  
Michelle C. Patterson ◽  
Meghan H. McDonough ◽  
Jennifer Hewson ◽  
Scott MacKay
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Supportive Behaviors ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Barriers And Challenges

Physical activity (PA) and social support have known benefits for the well-being and health of older adults, and social support is associated with PA behavior and positive affective experiences in PA contexts. The aim of this study was to synthesize qualitative research conducted on the experiences of social support related to PA among older adults (age ≥55 years). Following meta-study methodology, the authors searched nine databases and extracted information from 31 studies. Results were synthesized in terms of common themes and in light of theoretical and methodological perspectives used. The qualitative literature identifies supportive behaviors and social network outcomes which may be useful for informing how best to support older adults to be physically active. This literature rarely reflected the experiences of vulnerable populations, and future research should aim to further understand supportive behaviors which enable older adults to overcome barriers and challenges to being physically active.

scholarly journals PREVALENCE AND POSSIBLE RISK FACTORS OF HEMORRHOIDAL THROMBOSIS IN PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM PERIOD

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 209-214
Author(s):  
Yuliya S. Medkova ◽  
D. R Markar’yan ◽  
I. A Tulina ◽  
Yu. A Churina ◽  
L. S Aleksandrov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Postpartum Period ◽  
Patient Management ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Initial Visit ◽  
Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽  
In Pregnancy

Introduction. Nowadays there are no sufficient evidence based data for a scientifically approach to the treatment of hemorrhoids during pregnancy and after childbirth, as well as current data of the prevalence of hemorrhoidal thrombosis (HT) and possible risk factors. Material and methods. The study included pregnant women and puerperas who were actively diagnosed with chronic hemorrhoids (CH) and HT. The physical examination was performed four times: at the woman’s initial visit to the obstetrician-gynecologist, at 24 weeks of pregnancy, at 36 weeks of pregnancy, in the postpartum period (within 7 days after delivery). Patients suffering from HT were asked to answer a questionnaire to determine possible risk factors. Results. A study was conducted on a population of 668 women. 104 women was diagnosed with CH in the postpartum period, and 81 - during pregnancy. The median VAS score with HT was 7. Second delivery, age over 30 years old, lack of physical activity during pregnancy and vaginal delivery are possible risk factors for the development of HT. Conclusions. In the presence of a high risk of HT during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, preventive examinations by a coloproctologist are an important aspect of patient management.

scholarly journals Dietary and lifestyle patterns in UK postpartum women

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyriaki Myrissa ◽  
Rebecca Stevens ◽  
Eirini Kelaiditi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Postpartum Period ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Postpartum Women ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviours ◽  
Meal Skipping ◽  
Lifestyle Patterns

AbstractIntroductionHealthy dietary and physical activity behaviours during and after pregnancy are important for optimal maternal health. Unhealthy lifestyle habits promote excessive weight gain during pregnancy or weight retention in the postpartum period, which increase the risk of obesity. The aim of this study was to explore dietary habits and associated lifestyle patterns and barriers to healthy eating in UK postpartum women.MethodsCross-sectional study of 228 females (56.1% were 25–34 years old) with a mean postpartum period of 5.73 ± 3.31 months. Participants completed an online survey exploring eating habits, weight status, sleep duration, breastfeeding, nutrition knowledge, physical activity, provision of advice and barriers to healthy eating during the postpartum period. A sub-sample of 34 women (50% of the sample were between 35–44 years old) completed an optional online dietary intake assessment using a multiple-pass 24-hour recall.ResultsIn total, 73.7% were not meeting the five a day fruit and vegetable UK recommendations, 40.4% of women were skipping breakfast and 44.7% were skipping lunch every day. Average weight gain from pre-pregnancy to postpartum was 5.56 ± 4.61 kg (range = 0.8 to 25 kg) with only 2.2% of women meeting current UK physical activity guidelines during the postpartum period. Consumption of high calorie snacks and meal skipping were significantly higher during the postpartum period compared to pre-pregnancy (p < 0.01). Women who were breastfeeding had significantly lower body mass index than those who were bottle feeding (p < 0.05). Fatigue, lack of time and feeling stressed had the most impact on women's ability to eat healthily. Barriers to consume a balanced healthy diet were significantly greater for women with low combined household income and those having three or more children (p < 0.05). Poor nutrition knowledge was significantly associated with increased meal skipping (p < 0.05). The sub-sample dietary analysis (N = 34) showed that women were not meeting the UK Dietary Reference Values for energy, fibre, iron, and vitamin D intakes. Those breastfeeding were not meeting requirements for calcium and zinc.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the first study to explore dietary habits and lifestyle patterns in UK postpartum women. Health care professionals should support women to adopt lifestyle behaviours following childbirth, with a greater focus on those likely to be experiencing more barriers. Advice given to women during the postpartum period needs to be tailored to potential differences in sociodemographic characteristics, pre-pregnancy health status and baseline nutrition knowledge and target multiple dietary and lifestyle behaviours.

Physical Activity Psychology Research: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley J. Cardinal
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Research Trends ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychology Research ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Quarter Century ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Foundational Work

This paper offers a critical review and analysis of physical activity psychology research over the past quarter century (primarily), describes current research trends in the area, and suggests future research directions. This is a vast and ambitious task. Furthermore, the contributions come from those within kinesiology, as well as outside of kinesiology, with many new disciplines and professions advancing research agendas in this domain. There are rich and distinctive opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations in this area, opportunities that have genuine transformative potential. Following the paper's introduction, six major topics are addressed, including: what physical activity psychology is, foundational work in physical activity psychology research, trends in physical activity psychology research, behavioral specificity, physical activity prevalence, and where to go in the future. The paper concludes with a call-to-action, particularly aimed at helping to get and keep people physically active across the lifespan, which is the fundamental work of physical activity psychology.

scholarly journals Fundamental questions about genes, inactivity, and chronic diseases

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank W. Booth ◽  
Simon J. Lees
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Gene Interaction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Metabolic Dysfunction ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Early Disease Detection ◽  
Artery Disease

Currently our society is faced with the challenge of understanding the biological basis for the epidemics of obesity and many chronic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes. Physical inactivity increases the relative risk of coronary artery disease by 45%, stroke by 60%, hypertension by 30%, and osteoporosis by 59%. Moreover, physical inactivity is cited as an actual cause of chronic disease by the US Centers of Disease Control. Physical activity was obligatory for survival for the Homo genus for hundreds of thousands of years. This review will present evidence that suggests that metabolic pathways selected during the evolution of the human genome are inevitably linked to physical activity. Furthermore, as with many other environmental interactions, cycles of physical activity and inactivity interact with genes resulting in a functional outcome appropriate for the environment. However, as humans are less physically active, there is a maladaptive response that leads to metabolic dysfunction and many chronic diseases. How and why these interactions occur are fundamental questions in biology. Finally, a perspective to future research in physical inactivity-gene interaction is presented. This information is necessary to provide the molecular evidence required to further promote the primary prevention of chronic diseases through physical activity, identify those molecules that will allow early disease detection, and provide society with the molecular information needed to counter the current strategy of adding physical inactivity into our lives.

scholarly journals Barriers to Physical Activity Among Gay Men

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 408-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miranda A. Cary ◽  
Danielle R. Brittain ◽  
Mary K. Dinger ◽  
Melissa L. Ford ◽  
Meagan Cain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Gay Males ◽  
Men 2 ◽  
Common Barriers ◽  
Specific Barriers

Gay men may not be physically active at recommended levels to achieve health benefits. Thus, a need exists to identify general (i.e., common across populations) and population-specific barriers that hinder or stop gay men from participating in physical activity (PA). Salient barriers may be identified through the extent each barrier limits PA (i.e., barrier limitation) and the level of one’s confidence to overcome barriers and engage in PA (i.e., self-regulatory efficacy). The purposes of this study were to (1) provide a description of general and population-specific barriers to PA among sufficiently and insufficiently active gay men, (2) identify barrier limitation and self-regulatory efficacy for the reported barriers, and (3) examine the associations between meeting the current PA recommendation, barrier limitation, and self-regulatory efficacy. Participants were 108 self-identified gay males aged 21 to 64 years who completed a web-based survey. A total of 35 general barriers and no population-specific barriers were identified by the sufficiently and insufficiently active groups. The sufficiently active group reported higher self-regulatory efficacy and lower barrier limitation for nearly all reported barriers. A binary logistic regression used to examine the associations between PA, barrier limitation, and self-regulatory efficacy was statistically significant, χ2(2, N = 108) = 19.26, p < .0001, R2 = .16. Only barrier limitation significantly contributed to the model. Future research should continue to examine barriers to PA among gay men to determine whether an intervention needs to be designed specifically for gay men or whether a one-size-fits-all intervention would be effective in helping all men overcome common barriers to engaging in PA.

scholarly journals Does Activity-Related Social Support Differ by Characteristics of the Adolescent?

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 574-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Louise Edwardson ◽  
Trish Gorely ◽  
Hayley Musson ◽  
Rebecca Duncombe ◽  
Rachel Sandford
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Low Ses ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Sibling Support ◽  
Minority Ethnic Groups ◽  
Logistic Support ◽  
Minority Ethnic

Background:Previous research has shown a positive relationship between activity-related social support provided by parents and peers and adolescents’ physical activity. However, more information is needed on whether activity-related social support differs by sociodemographic characteristics. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in activity-related social support in a sample of adolescents, by characteristics such as age, gender, socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity, and physical activity level and to determine which characteristics are the most important predictors of activity-related social support.Methods:Information was provided by 578 boys and 588 girls (11–14 years) on demographic factors, physical activity, and activity-related support. ANOVA, correlations, and multiple regression were performed to address the purposes of the study.Results:Boys, White British, younger, more physically active, and high-SES adolescents perceived more support for physical activity. Age predicted all types of support excluding peer support; ethnicity predicted mother logistic support and sibling support; gender predicted peer support, father explicit modeling, and father logistic support; and SES predicted mother and father logistic support.Conclusions:Families and peers of adolescents who are female, from Black and minority ethnic groups, older, of low-SES, and less active should be targeted for intervention.

scholarly journals Influences of Social Support, Perceived Barriers, and Negative Meanings of Physical Activity on Physical Activity in Middle School Students

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Wen Hsu ◽  
Chih-Ping Chou ◽  
Selena T. Nguyen-Rodriguez ◽  
Arianna D. McClain ◽  
Britni R. Belcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
School Students ◽  
Family Social Support

Background:A profound decline in physical activity occurs in puberty. This phenomenon is not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine associations between family/friend social support for physical activity, negative meanings of physical activity (NMPA), and internal /external barriers to physical activity with moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary and light behavior (SLB) in youth.Methods:A total of 350 participants from 7 Los Angeles County middle schools participated in the study (62% Latina, 79% females). Hypothesized pathways were examined using structural equation modeling. Psychosocial variables and participation in MVPA and SLB were assessed by self-reported questionnaires.Results:NMPA were related to lower levels of family/friend social support and greater internal/external barriers. Family social support was the only significant indicator of MVPA (β = 0.79). Low family social support was related to higher SLB (β = −0.25).Conclusions:Family social support seems crucial to promote MVPA and reduce SLB in adolescents and might be influenced by child’s feelings about physical activity. Future research should consider the interrelationship between psychosocial correlates of physical activity.

Weight-Loss Resilience Among Low-Income Postpartum Women: Association With Health Habits

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 1709-1723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine O. Walker ◽  
Sookja Kang ◽  
Bobbie S. Sterling
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Postpartum Women ◽  
Health Habits

Using a weight resilience framework, health habits of diet and physical activity, social support, and perceived stress were compared in women who lost weight (resilient) and those who did not lose or gained weight (nonresilient) during a weight-loss intervention. Participants were low-income postpartum women participating in a 13-week randomized treatment-control group intervention, with 20 of 50 classified as resilient in losing weight. Measures included the Postpartum Support Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and health habit items from the Self Care Inventory. Weight-loss resilient women showed significantly more frequent healthful dietary habits, such as eating a nutritious breakfast, and less frequent unhealthy habits, such as substituting junk food for meals, and less perceived stress than their nonresilient counterparts at both the midpoint and end of the study. Weight-loss resilient women also showed significantly more frequent physical activity habits at the end of the study. No social support differences were found.

Installation of Bicycle Lanes and Increased Ridership in an Urban, Mixed-Income Setting in New Orleans, Louisiana

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (s1) ◽  
pp. S98-S102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Parker ◽  
Jeanette Gustat ◽  
Janet C. Rice
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
Correct Direction ◽  
Trained Observers

Background:People are more physically active in neighborhoods that are well designed for walking and bicycling. Building infrastructure for safer cycling is one way to promote physical activity. On-road bike lanes are one type of infrastructure hypothesized to positively impact levels of cycling. The first on-street bike lane was painted in New Orleans, LA during the spring of 2008.Methods:In November of 2007 and again in November 2008, trained observers conducted manual counts of cyclists riding on St. Claude Avenue in New Orleans, LA. The data collected included the number of men, women, adults, and children riding a bicycle with traffic, against traffic, and on sidewalks.Results:Data showed a 57% increase in the average number of riders per day (P < .001). There was a 133% increase among adult female riders (P < .001) and a 44% increase among adult male riders (P < .001). The percentage of cyclists riding in the correct direction, with the flow of traffic, increased from 73% to 82% (P < .001).Conclusions:Bike lanes can have a positive impact in creating a healthy physical environment. Future research should include other streets for comparison purposes and surveys to determine whether riders are substituting biking for nonactive forms of transportation.

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