The effectiveness of a health‐based message on pregnant women’s intentions to exercise postpartum

Abstract

Background:The benefits of physical activity in the general population are established and research suggests regular physical activity following childbirth is linked with improved health outcomes. However, many women do not resume pre-pregnancy exercise levels. Objective: The present research used the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) framework to examine whether information about the health benefits of postpartum exercise presented during pregnancy can serve as a meaningful source of exercise motivation. Method: Pregnant women (n = 89) were randomly assigned into one of two conditions: experimental (read a brochure about the health benefits of postpartum exercise) and control (no information). After the intervention, all participants completed measures of attitude, subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC) and intention to exercise postpartum. Results: Independent group t-tests showed that compared to the control group, participants who received the persuasive message reported significantly more positive attitudes, stronger SN, PBC, and greater intention to exercise (all p's < .05). Attitudes, SN, and PBC accounted for 51% of the variance in intention. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that exposure to information about the health benefits of exercise during the postpartum period grounded in the TPB can influence pregnant women's exercise beliefs and intentions.

Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Women Following Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy – a Prospective, Randomised, Controlled Interventional Study

“…In addition, it was apparent that 27 of 78 surveyed patients did sport less frequently after the index event (preeclampsia) than before the pregnancy (increase in frequency in only 6 of 78 patients). Available studies show that unaffected women can be motivated to more physical activity by convincing information about health aspects 58 . In this study, in addition to consistent advice in the pre-discharge discussion with these patients, involvement of a midwife in the exercise setting subsequently laid an effective foundation for good adherence of the subjects to the aerobic basic endurance exercise.…”

“…Es zeigte sich darüber hinaus, dass 27 von 78 befragten Patientinnen nach dem Indexereignis (Präeklampsie) weniger häufig Sport trieben als vor der Schwangerschaft (Steigerung der Frequenz bei nur 6 von 78 Patienten). Vorliegende Studien zeigen für nicht betroffene Frauen, dass sie sich durch überzeugende Informationen über Gesundheitsaspekte zu mehr physischer Aktivität motivieren lassen 58 . Im Rahmen dieser Studie konnte neben der einheitlichen Beratung im Abschlussgespräch dieser Patientinnen auch in der Folge durch die Einbindung einer Hebamme in das Trainingssetting ein effektiver Grundstein für die gute Adhärenz der Probandinnen am aeroben Grundlagenausdauertraining gelegt werden.…”

Get the message? A scoping review of physical activity messaging

“…Qualitative research found that pregnant women with Gestational Diabetes want to feel confident about being physically active during pregnancy, and that they would like practical information on safe physical activities they can take part in [133]. Empirical research suggests that appearance and health based messages were equally ineffective at improving intentions to exercise post-partum [134], but that persuasive messages grounded in Theory of Planned Behaviour resulted in significantly greater improvements in PA related outcomes than control [135].…”

The Physical Activity Messaging Framework (PAMF) and Checklist (PAMC): International consensus statement and user guide

“…Why to do it information includes information on any benefits (or consequences) of being active (or inactive). This information can relate to a number of areas, such as physical health [ 2 , 3 ], mental health [ 35 , 36 ], appearance [ 37 , 38 ] or the environmental impact of PA [ 39 ], and may refer to immediate, short term and/or long-term effects [ 7 ]. Current evidence points towards the benefits of promoting immediate short-term benefits of PA, particularly relating to affective state and mental or social health [ 7 ].…”