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Influences on physical activity and screen time amongst postpartum women with heightened depressive symptoms: a qualitative study
- Source :
- BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2021), BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- BMC, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Background Postpartum women are at higher risk of depression compared to the general population. Despite the mental health benefits an active lifestyle can provide, postpartum women engage in low physical activity and high screen time. Very little research has investigated the social ecological (i.e. individual, social and physical environmental) influences on physical activity and screen time amongst postpartum women, particularly amongst those with depressive symptoms. Therefore, this study sought to examine the influences on physical activity and screen time amongst postpartum women with heightened depressive symptoms. Methods 20 mothers (3–9 months postpartum) participating in the Mums on the Move pilot randomised controlled trial who reported being insufficiently active and experiencing heightened depressive symptoms participated in semi-structured telephone interviews exploring their perceptions of the key influences on their physical activity and screen time across various levels of the social ecological model. Strategies for promoting physical activity and reducing screen time were explored with participants. Thematic analyses were undertaken to construct key themes from the qualitative data. Results Findings showed that postpartum women with depressive symptoms reported individual (i.e. sleep quality, being housebound, single income), social (i.e. childcare, social support from partner and friends) and physical environmental (i.e. weather, safety in the local neighbourhood) influences on physical activity. Postpartum women reported individual (i.e. screen use out of habit and addiction, enjoyment) and social (i.e. positive role modelling, social isolation) influences on screen-time, but no key themes targeting the physical environmental influences were identified for screen time. Strategies suggested by women to increase physical activity included mother’s physical activity groups, home-based physical activity programs and awareness-raising. Strategies to reduce screen time included the use of screen time tracker apps, increasing social connections and awareness-raising. Conclusions Amongst postpartum women with heightened depressive symptoms, influences on physical activity encompassed all constructs of the social ecological model. However, screen time was only perceived to be influenced by individual and social factors. Intervention strategies targeting predominantly individual and social factors may be particularly important for this high-risk group. These findings could assist in developing targeted physical activity and screen time interventions for this cohort.
- Subjects :
- Psychological intervention
physical activity
Pilot Projects
Social Environment
0302 clinical medicine
Pregnancy
Risk Factors
030212 general & internal medicine
Social isolation
Qualitative Research
media_common
Uncategorized
education.field_of_study
postnatal
Postpartum Period
Obstetrics and Gynecology
determinants
strategies
depression
Female
medicine.symptom
mental health
Clinical psychology
Adult
media_common.quotation_subject
Population
Mothers
030209 endocrinology & metabolism
Depression, Postpartum
Interviews as Topic
Screen Time
03 medical and health sciences
Social support
Screen time
Young Adult
sedentary behaviour
medicine
Humans
education
Exercise
Self-efficacy
business.industry
Addiction
Research
Infant, Newborn
Infant
Gynecology and obstetrics
Mental health
RG1-991
RG
business
RC
New Zealand
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712393
- Volume :
- 21
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....af7198b21c261a47df2b7c523bec0b88