Pregnant women’s perceptions of weight gain, physical activity, and nutrition using Theory of Planned Behavior constructs

Kara Whitaker; Sara Wilcox; Jihong Liu; Steven Blair; Russell Pate

doi:10.1007/s10865-015-9672-z

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Pregnant women’s perceptions of weight gain, physical activity, and nutrition using Theory of Planned Behavior constructs

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Pregnant women’s perceptions of weight gain, physical activity, and nutrition using Theory of Planned Behavior constructs

Kara Whitaker, Sara Wilcox, Jihong Liu, Steven Blair and Russell Pate

Journal of behavioral medicine, Vol.39(1), pp.41-54

02/2016

DOI: 10.1007/s10865-015-9672-z

PMCID: PMC4753045

PMID: 26335313

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/4753045View

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Abstract

A better understanding of women’s perceptions of weight gain and related behaviors during pregnancy is necessary to inform behavioral interventions. We used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine pregnant women’s perceptions and intentions toward weight gain, physical activity (PA), and nutrition using a mixed methods study design. Women between 20 and 30 weeks gestation (n = 189) were recruited to complete an Internet-based survey. Salient beliefs toward weight gain, PA, and nutrition were captured through open-ended responses and content analyzed into themes. TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, intentions) were examined using Pearson correlations and hierarchical linear regression models. Salient beliefs were consistent with the existing literature in non-pregnant populations, with the addition of many pregnancy-specific beliefs. TPB constructs accounted for 23–39 % of the variance in weight gain, PA, and nutrition intentions, and made varying contributions across outcomes. The TPB is a useful framework for examining women’s weight-related intentions during pregnancy. Study implications for intervention development are discussed.

Health Psychology

Pregnancy

Medicine & Public Health

Physical activity

Nutrition

General Practice / Family Medicine

Theory of Planned Behavior

Medicine/Public Health, general

Weight

Details

Title: Subtitle: Pregnant women’s perceptions of weight gain, physical activity, and nutrition using Theory of Planned Behavior constructs
Creators: Kara Whitaker - Division of Epidemiology and Community Health University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
Sara Wilcox - Prevention Research Center University of South Carolina Columbia SC USA
Jihong Liu - Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics University of South Carolina Columbia SC USA
Steven Blair - Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics University of South Carolina Columbia SC USA
Russell Pate - Department of Exercise Science University of South Carolina Columbia SC USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of behavioral medicine, Vol.39(1), pp.41-54
DOI: 10.1007/s10865-015-9672-z
PMID: 26335313
PMCID: PMC4753045
NLM abbreviation: J Behav Med
ISSN: 0160-7715
eISSN: 1573-3521
Publisher: Springer US; New York
Grant note: T32-GM081740 / National Institute of General Medical Sciences (US) (http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000057) Office of the Vice President for Research, University of South Carolina
Language: English
Date published: 02/2016
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology
Record Identifier: 9984002460502771

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