Reconciling relationships with physical activity: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal physical activity decision-making
Abstract Background Challenges with engaging in postnatal physical activity can negatively affect the health of women and their families. This study investigated women’s physical activity decision-making processes and strategies to support their physical activity as part of a healthy postpartum tran...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03537-z |
| _version_ | 1818461070664138752 |
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| author | Sarah Jane Liva Wendy Anne Hall John Oliffe |
| author_facet | Sarah Jane Liva Wendy Anne Hall John Oliffe |
| author_sort | Sarah Jane Liva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Challenges with engaging in postnatal physical activity can negatively affect the health of women and their families. This study investigated women’s physical activity decision-making processes and strategies to support their physical activity as part of a healthy postpartum transition. Methods Thirty healthy women with infants aged 2.5–12 months completed 3-day activity diaries and an individual interview. Using Glaser and Charmaz’s grounded theory methodology, the core category, reconciling relationships with physical activity, was constructed, which explained women’s processes of postnatal physical activity decision-making. Results Through reconciling relationships with physical activity, women discerned the types of physical activity they were comfortable pursuing at various points in the postpartum transition. Based on the meaning physical activity held for participants and their views about risks, supports, and resources, women gauged their capacity and the workability of their physical activity desires. Most women were uncertain of their capacity (physical, emotional) to return to physical activity and viewed the achievement of several or all of their desired physical activities as unworkable. Only a small group of women fully pursued the desirable physical activities they viewed as important for their well-being. Women adjusted the strategies they used to achieve physical activity when their expectations of capacity and workability did not align with their experiences. Some women lacked access to resources or supportive messaging about postpartum physical activity and downgraded their physical activity pursuit after negative personal physical or childcare experiences. Conclusions Women can benefit from discussions about physiological birth recovery and navigating community and peer resources to support physical activity access and the safe return to physical activity following birth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T23:40:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b045724650c4163b0dc4c920e78257c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T23:40:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b045724650c4163b0dc4c920e78257c2022-12-21T22:43:32ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932021-01-0121111010.1186/s12884-020-03537-zReconciling relationships with physical activity: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal physical activity decision-makingSarah Jane Liva0Wendy Anne Hall1John Oliffe2School of Nursing, Trinity Western UniversitySchool of Nursing, University of British ColumbiaSchool of Nursing, University of British ColumbiaAbstract Background Challenges with engaging in postnatal physical activity can negatively affect the health of women and their families. This study investigated women’s physical activity decision-making processes and strategies to support their physical activity as part of a healthy postpartum transition. Methods Thirty healthy women with infants aged 2.5–12 months completed 3-day activity diaries and an individual interview. Using Glaser and Charmaz’s grounded theory methodology, the core category, reconciling relationships with physical activity, was constructed, which explained women’s processes of postnatal physical activity decision-making. Results Through reconciling relationships with physical activity, women discerned the types of physical activity they were comfortable pursuing at various points in the postpartum transition. Based on the meaning physical activity held for participants and their views about risks, supports, and resources, women gauged their capacity and the workability of their physical activity desires. Most women were uncertain of their capacity (physical, emotional) to return to physical activity and viewed the achievement of several or all of their desired physical activities as unworkable. Only a small group of women fully pursued the desirable physical activities they viewed as important for their well-being. Women adjusted the strategies they used to achieve physical activity when their expectations of capacity and workability did not align with their experiences. Some women lacked access to resources or supportive messaging about postpartum physical activity and downgraded their physical activity pursuit after negative personal physical or childcare experiences. Conclusions Women can benefit from discussions about physiological birth recovery and navigating community and peer resources to support physical activity access and the safe return to physical activity following birth.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03537-zPhysical activityPostpartumDecision-makingGrounded theoryExercise |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Jane Liva Wendy Anne Hall John Oliffe Reconciling relationships with physical activity: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal physical activity decision-making BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Physical activity Postpartum Decision-making Grounded theory Exercise |
| title | Reconciling relationships with physical activity: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal physical activity decision-making |
| title_full | Reconciling relationships with physical activity: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal physical activity decision-making |
| title_fullStr | Reconciling relationships with physical activity: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal physical activity decision-making |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reconciling relationships with physical activity: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal physical activity decision-making |
| title_short | Reconciling relationships with physical activity: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal physical activity decision-making |
| title_sort | reconciling relationships with physical activity a qualitative study of women s postnatal physical activity decision making |
| topic | Physical activity Postpartum Decision-making Grounded theory Exercise |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03537-z |
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