PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PATTERNS AND MATERNAL WELL-BEING IN POSTPARTUM WOMEN

Abstract

Little data exists examining physical activity patterns in postpartum women and the relationship to maternal well-being. Furthermore, the contribution of household, child and family care activities to daily physical activity levels is rarely quantified (Ainsworth, 2000). PURPOSE: To examine changes in physical activity patterns pre versus postpartum and the relationship between physical activity patterns and material well being in postpartum women. METHODS: Fifty-six postpartum (up to 1 yr) women (age: 29.3 ± 4.2 y; 91% Caucasian) completed a modified Kaiser Physical Activity Survey (KPAS) (Ainsworth, 2000) and the Postpartum Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PPQ) (Lederman, 1981). Subjects recalled their activity for the year prior to their pregnancy and since the birth of their baby for the KPAS. RESULTS: KPAS provides four summary activity indexes: housework/caregiving (HC), active living habits (AL), sport (S) and occupation (O). The PPQ has 7 subscales related to maternal well-being. A significant increase in the HC index was found pre versus postpartum in all subjects (2.81 ± 0.64 vs. 2.97 ± 0.44; p = 0.005). A significant difference in the S index was found between women with a child ≥ 6 versus < 6 months of age (1.89 ± 0.82 vs. 2.5 ± 1.0, p = 0.033). S index was significantly associated with 2 PPQ subscales (quality of relationship with the husband, r = −0.31, p = 0.027; mother's perception of father's participation in child care, r = −0.29, p = 0.036). CONCLUSION: These results indicate the postpartum period results in a greater level of HC activities. The ability of women to engage in S activities is related to a higher quality relationship with their husband, greater participation by the father in childcare and having an older infant.