Development and evaluation of a pilot program to promote exercise among mothers of preschool children

Cody, Robyn; Lee, Christina

doi:10.1207/s15327558ijbm0601_2

Cited by 27 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…As a group, working mothers exhibit high levels of inactivity, which can largely be attributed to the numerous real and perceived physical activity barriers they encounter (Brown et al, 2001;Burke et al, 2004;Cramp and Bray, 2011;Verhoef and Love, 1994). As declining levels of physical activity across the transition into motherhood have emerged as a legitimate public health concern, several interventions designed specifically for women with children have been developed (Cody and Lee, 1999;Cramp and Brawley, 2006;Fahrenwald et al, 2004;Fjeldsoe et al, 2010). Most recently, a brief, social cognitive theorybased intervention to increase physical activity among working mothers demonstrated positive effects on self-reported physical activity (Mailey and McAuley, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Activity Intervention Effects on Perceived Stress in Working Mothers: The Role of Self-Efficacy

Mailey

McAuley

2014

Women & Health

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Working mothers often report elevated stress, and efforts to improve their coping resources are needed to buffer the detrimental effects of stress on health. This study examined the impact of changes in physical activity, self-efficacy, and self-regulation across the course of a brief intervention on subsequent levels of stress in working mothers. Participants (N=141) were randomly assigned to an intervention or control condition (2:1 ratio). The intervention was conducted in Illinois between March 2011-January 2012 and consisted of two group-mediated workshop sessions with content based on Social Cognitive Theory. Participants completed measures of physical activity, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and perceived stress at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up. Stress levels declined across the 6-month period in both groups. Changes in stress were negatively associated with changes in self-efficacy and self-regulation among intervention participants only. Regression analyses revealed the intervention elicited short-term increases in physical activity, self-efficacy, and self-regulation, but only changes in self-efficacy predicted perceived stress at 6-month follow-up. These results suggest that enhancing self-efficacy is likely to improve working mothers' perceived capabilities to cope with stressors in their lives. Future interventions should continue to focus on increasing self-efficacy to promote improvements in physical activity and psychological well-being in this population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Activity Intervention Effects on Perceived Stress in Working Mothers: The Role of Self-Efficacy

Mailey

McAuley

2014

Women & Health

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“…A small number of such interventions have specifically targeted mothers, and the results thus far have been promising, with all studies reporting some positive changes in behavioral outcomes (Cody & Lee, 1999;Cramp & Brawley, 2006;Fahrenwald et al, 2004;Fjeldsoe et al, 2010).…”

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confidence: 99%

Impact of a brief intervention on physical activity and social cognitive determinants among working mothers: a randomized trial

Mailey

McAuley

2013

J Behav Med

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Working mothers exhibit high levels of inactivity, and theory-based interventions to bolster physical activity within this population are needed. This study examined the effectiveness of a brief social cognitive theory-based intervention designed to increase physical activity among working mothers. Participants (N=141) were randomly assigned to an intervention only, intervention plus follow-up support, or waitlist control condition. The intervention consisted of two group-based workshop sessions designed to teach behavior modification strategies using social cognitive theory. Data were collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up. Results showed intervention participants exhibited short-term increases in physical activity, which were partially maintained six months later. Improvements in physical activity were mediated by increases in self-regulation and self-efficacy. This study provides some support for the effectiveness of a brief intervention to increase physical activity among working mothers. Future programs should explore alternative support mechanisms which may lead to more effective maintenance of initial behavior changes.

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“…Maternal stress has been identified as a factor that might disrupt mothers' level of exercise involvement; however, it has not been systematically examined with respect to its effect on adopting PA (Cody & Lee, 1999). Mothers in the current study identified several stressors related to motherhood (e.g., their children not getting along with one another) that are similar to those reported in previous studies of primarily non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black mothers and have been associated with poor physical and emotional health outcomes (Stephens, Franks, & Townsend, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Preliminary evidence from these studies suggests that these interventions are potentially effective in increasing motivation to exercise, increasing daily energy expenditure, and mobilizing mothers towards meeting current guidelines for moderate-intensity PA (Fahrenwald et al, 2004;Miller et al, 2002). Although these studies demonstrate that mothers are in fact interested in programs that promote PA and can successfully adopt more physically active lifestyles, familyrelated constraints and maternal stressors continue to be factors that disrupt their level of exercise (Cody & Lee, 1999). Therefore, it is important to examine systematically which aspects of motherhood might influence successful adoption of moderate PA, particularly among low-income and ethnically diverse mothers, given that previous studies have focused on primarily non-Hispanic white populations (Miller et al, 2002;Verhoef & Love, 1994;Verhoef et al, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The few studies that have tested behavioral interventions aimed at increasing PA in mothers have tailored their interventions after wellstudied theoretical approaches to behavior change (i.e., Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, 1977;Prochaska & DiClemente's Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, 1983) (Cody & Lee, 1999;Fahrenwald et al, 2004;Ransdell et al, 2001) and community-based approaches (Miller et al, 2002). Preliminary evidence from these studies suggests that these interventions are potentially effective in increasing motivation to exercise, increasing daily energy expenditure, and mobilizing mothers towards meeting current guidelines for moderate-intensity PA (Fahrenwald et al, 2004;Miller et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of Maternal Stress on Successful Participation in a Physical Activity Intervention: The IMPACT Project

et al. 2006

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ABSTRACT. Few studies have examined the impact of motherhood on successful participation in physical activity (PA) interventions. The current study focused on mothers in the Increasing Motivation for Physical Activity or IMPACT study, which aimed to promote PA in sedentary, low-income, ethnically diverse women (74% Latina). The aim of this study was to determine whether certain maternal variables (e.g., number of children, number and intensity of maternal stressors) influenced successful participation in an 8-week, class-based, PA intervention. PA consisted of accumulating 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity activities (e.g., walking) five or more days a week. Sixty-eight mothers (average age = 32 years) were assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. Paired comparison t-tests demonstrated a significant increase in PA-related energy expenditure from baseline to 10 weeks (p < 0.05). Furthermore, this increase in PA was significantly associated with a decrease in the number of maternal stressors reported over this time period (p < 0.01). Simultaneous regression analyses indicated that (1) having a higher number of maternal stressors at baseline was associated with lower class attendance (p ≤ 0.05) and (2) rating these maternal stressors (e.g., unable to control children's behavior) as being more stressful at baseline was associated with lower levels of PA at 10 weeks (p ≤ 0.01), independent of the number of children at home. These results suggest that the number and intensity of perceived maternal stressors may negatively impact attempts to become more physically active. Interventions should address such stressors.

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Development and evaluation of a pilot program to promote exercise among mothers of preschool children

Cited by 27 publications

References 34 publications

Physical Activity Intervention Effects on Perceived Stress in Working Mothers: The Role of Self-Efficacy

Physical Activity Intervention Effects on Perceived Stress in Working Mothers: The Role of Self-Efficacy

Impact of a brief intervention on physical activity and social cognitive determinants among working mothers: a randomized trial

Influence of Maternal Stress on Successful Participation in a Physical Activity Intervention: The IMPACT Project

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