Impact of a brief exercise adherence intervention on physical activity and quality of life among working mothers

Working mothers face numerous exercise barriers, and thus exhibit high levels of inactivity. The stress associated with fulfilling multiple roles can also compromise quality of life within this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a brief exercise adherence intervention for improving physical activity and quality of life among working mothers. Participants (N=141) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: intervention only, intervention plus follow-up support, or waitlist control. The intervention consisted of two group-based workshop sessions designed to teach behavior modification strategies using Social Cognitive Theory. Data were collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention (1 month), and at a 6-month follow-up. Results showed participants who participated in the intervention exhibited immediate increases in self-reported physical activity, which were partially maintained six months later. Across the six-month duration of the study, increases in physical activity were associated with reductions in stress, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, and increases in global quality of life among participants who received the intervention. The results of the study also suggest the social cognitive framework underlying the intervention content had the desired effects, with changes in self-efficacy and self-regulation emerging as the most potent predictors of changes in physical activity. Overall, the results of this study provide some support for the effectiveness of a brief intervention to increase physical activity among working mothers, and suggest promoting physical activity may be a viable means of enhancing quality of life within this population