Moms on the move: A qualitative exploration of a postpartum group exercise program on physical activity behaviour at three distinct time points
Purpose Physical activity (PA) after the birth of a child is associated with improved physical and mental health benefits. The aim of the study was to explore new mothers’ experiences of PA before and after participation in a group-based PA program for new mothers. The study has three research quest...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2172793 |
| _version_ | 1797401392641474560 |
|---|---|
| author | Iris A. Lesser Carl P. Nienhuis Gillian L. Hatfield |
| author_facet | Iris A. Lesser Carl P. Nienhuis Gillian L. Hatfield |
| author_sort | Iris A. Lesser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose Physical activity (PA) after the birth of a child is associated with improved physical and mental health benefits. The aim of the study was to explore new mothers’ experiences of PA before and after participation in a group-based PA program for new mothers. The study has three research questions: how new mothers felt; 1) about PA after the birth of their child 2) about engaging in a group-based PA program and 3) after the program ended about ongoing PA engagement. Methods We conducted an 8-week bi-weekly PA program for postpartum women. To understand the experience of postpartum women engaging in a group-based PA program we conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews before, after, and at 6-month follow-up. Results Of the n = 21 participants in the Moms on the Move study; n = 17 completed pre interviews.s. One primary theme emerged from pre-program interviews where mothers shared how they were lost as to where to start PA. Post-program interviews produced two primary themes; engaging in PA helped mothers, and mothers learned to rethink PA. Conclusions Postpartum women who participated in this group-based PA program had positive benefits to their mental and physical health and were able to alter their PA behaviour. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:09:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-08f7277459b741b4ab31772c04b65e25 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:09:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj.art-08f7277459b741b4ab31772c04b65e252023-12-07T15:12:02ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312023-12-0118110.1080/17482631.2023.21727932172793Moms on the move: A qualitative exploration of a postpartum group exercise program on physical activity behaviour at three distinct time pointsIris A. Lesser0Carl P. Nienhuis1Gillian L. Hatfield2University of the Fraser ValleyUniversity of the Fraser ValleyUniversity of the Fraser ValleyPurpose Physical activity (PA) after the birth of a child is associated with improved physical and mental health benefits. The aim of the study was to explore new mothers’ experiences of PA before and after participation in a group-based PA program for new mothers. The study has three research questions: how new mothers felt; 1) about PA after the birth of their child 2) about engaging in a group-based PA program and 3) after the program ended about ongoing PA engagement. Methods We conducted an 8-week bi-weekly PA program for postpartum women. To understand the experience of postpartum women engaging in a group-based PA program we conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews before, after, and at 6-month follow-up. Results Of the n = 21 participants in the Moms on the Move study; n = 17 completed pre interviews.s. One primary theme emerged from pre-program interviews where mothers shared how they were lost as to where to start PA. Post-program interviews produced two primary themes; engaging in PA helped mothers, and mothers learned to rethink PA. Conclusions Postpartum women who participated in this group-based PA program had positive benefits to their mental and physical health and were able to alter their PA behaviour.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2172793postpartumexercisemental healthidentityphysical activity |
| spellingShingle | Iris A. Lesser Carl P. Nienhuis Gillian L. Hatfield Moms on the move: A qualitative exploration of a postpartum group exercise program on physical activity behaviour at three distinct time points International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being postpartum exercise mental health identity physical activity |
| title | Moms on the move: A qualitative exploration of a postpartum group exercise program on physical activity behaviour at three distinct time points |
| title_full | Moms on the move: A qualitative exploration of a postpartum group exercise program on physical activity behaviour at three distinct time points |
| title_fullStr | Moms on the move: A qualitative exploration of a postpartum group exercise program on physical activity behaviour at three distinct time points |
| title_full_unstemmed | Moms on the move: A qualitative exploration of a postpartum group exercise program on physical activity behaviour at three distinct time points |
| title_short | Moms on the move: A qualitative exploration of a postpartum group exercise program on physical activity behaviour at three distinct time points |
| title_sort | moms on the move a qualitative exploration of a postpartum group exercise program on physical activity behaviour at three distinct time points |
| topic | postpartum exercise mental health identity physical activity |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2172793 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT irisalesser momsonthemoveaqualitativeexplorationofapostpartumgroupexerciseprogramonphysicalactivitybehaviouratthreedistincttimepoints AT carlpnienhuis momsonthemoveaqualitativeexplorationofapostpartumgroupexerciseprogramonphysicalactivitybehaviouratthreedistincttimepoints AT gillianlhatfield momsonthemoveaqualitativeexplorationofapostpartumgroupexerciseprogramonphysicalactivitybehaviouratthreedistincttimepoints |