Examination of low-socioeconomic status pregnant women's first trimester exercise intention and behavior
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Hyondo Chung (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Paul Davis
Abstract: Exercise is a safe and efficacious way to gain many physical and mental health benefits (Fell, Joseph, Armson, & Dodds, 2008). However, the majority of women stay sedentary during pregnancy (Evenson & Well, 2010). In order to promote exercise among pregnant women, Hausenblas, Symons Downs, and their colleagues conducted a series of studies to explore psychosocial determinants that impact middle-to-upper class women's physical activity during pregnancy (Hausenblas & Symons Downs, 2004; Hausenblas, Symons Downs, Giacobbi, & Cook, 2008; Symons Downs & Hausenblas, 2003, 2007). However, research indicates socio-economic status (SES) as a significant predictor of different physical activity levels during pregnancy (Domingues & Barros, 2007; Cheng et al., 2011). Thus low SES pregnant women may have different psychosocial determinants of exercise. This study is designed to replicate the previous study of Hausenblas and Symons Downs (2004) to examine low SES pregnant women's exercise intention and behavior. Participants were 50 low-socioeconomic status women who were in their first trimester of pregnancy. They were recruited from a local social program which provides financial assistance for obstetric check-ups during pregnancy. All participants completed a questionnaire packet which was designed to measure psychosocial determinants of exercise (TPB) and physical activity. Demographic information was also collected. Results from multiple regression analysis indicated that the TPB constructs; attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, did not predict exercise intention. Discriminant analysis results revealed that exercise intention and perceived behavioral control significantly discriminated the exercise and non-exercise group. A follow-up (step-wise discriminant analysis) indicated that only perceived behavioral control, but not intention, significantly discriminated the two groups. The results only partially supported the previous study of Hausenblas and Symons Downs (2004), and suggest that different variables may have moderated the relationship between the TPB measure and exercise behavior.
Examination of low-socioeconomic status pregnant women's first trimester exercise intention and behavior
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Created on 8/1/2012
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2012
- Keywords
- Exercise and Pregnancy, Exercise Behavior, Exercise Intention, Hispanic, Socioeconomic Status, Theory of Planned Behavior
- Subjects
- Exercise for pregnant women
- Poor women $x Health and hygiene $z North Carolina $z Guilford County