Table 1 Factors influencing participation in PA in pregnancy
Increase engagement with PA | Decrease engagement with PA | BCTs which could be employed into an intervention (BCT taxonomy identifier [33]) | Potential interventions to increase PA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Biological/physical | − Good information from a trusted source − Personal experience of the benefits | − Pain, discomfort − Pregnancy size − Sickness − Tiredness | − Information from a credible source (9.1) − Overcome physiological barriers through problem solving (1.2) − considering pros and cons (9.2) − Enhance experience of benefits through self-monitoring of outcomes of behaviour (2.4) − Focus on past success (15.3) | − Individually tailored information (specifically related to pregnancy challenges e.g. PGP) − Taster sessions to facilitate personal experience of benefits |
Psychological | − Experience of feeling good / wellbeing after PA − Having fun − De-stress/relax | − Can’t be bothered, effort − Lack of confidence / self-esteem − Fear of harm | − Encourage reflections of wellbeing after PA with self-monitoring of outcomes of behaviour (2.4) − Enhance peer support and confidence through social support: practical and emotional (3.2, 3.3) − Address fear of harm through instruction on how to perform behaviour (4.1) − demonstration of the behaviour (6.1) − information about health consequences (5.1) | − Classes which provide opportunities for fun and relaxation − Personal invitation / peer support − Specific classes for pregnant women − Tailored information linking classes with health services |
Social/ environmental | − Supportive partner − Meeting others | − Childcare − Time − Lack of information − Lack of advice from midwives/Health services | − Facilitate meeting others and support through social support: practical and emotional (3.2, 3.3) − Encouraging awareness of support from others through information about others approval (6.3) − Additional information from midwives through information about health consequences (5.1) − instruction on how to perform behaviour (4.1) − credible source (9.1) − Overcoming barriers such as childcare through problem solving (1.2) | − Social opportunities alongside classes/groups − Involving children/childcare |