Personal, Social, and Environmental Influences on Physical Activity Behavior in Reproductive Age Mothers

Regular physical activity has many important health benefits. However, reproductive age mothers are at higher risk for physical inactivity and lower levels of moderate-vigorous physical activity. Personal, social, and environmental correlates of housework/caregiving, occupation, active living, and sports/exercise physical activity were examined among reproductive age mothers. Factors situated on three socioenvironmental levels were theorized to influence physical activity. The individual/intrapersonal level included sociodemographic characteristics and self-efficacy for physical activity. The social/interpersonal level included social norms and social support. The community level included neighborhood environment. Influence of the different correlates varied among the types of physical activity. Population and income were associated with occupational and sports/exercise physical activity. Relevance of self-efficacy and social support to reproductive age mothers' physical activity were somewhat supported, particularly for sports/exercise physical activity. Social norms navigation, but not social norms, was associated with mothers' sports/exercise physical activity. Aspects of the neighborhood environment were influential in housework/caregiving, occupation, and sports/exercise physical activity