Attitude, intention key to exercise in pregnant women.

2003 MAY 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Attitude and intention are the two most important factors in pregnant women's decisions about exercising, according to exercise psychologists at Penn State and the University of Florida.

"A pregnant woman's attitude toward exercise influences her intention to exercise," said Dr. Danielle Symons Downs, assistant professor of kinesiology at Penn State. "Her intention to exercise is the strongest determinant of her actual exercise behavior," she told attendees at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance meeting in Philadelphia.

Downs and Dr. Heather A. Hausenblas, assistant professor of exercise and sports science, University of Florida, are conducting a longitudinal study of pregnant women. They are looking at how attitudes, intentions and behavior change throughout pregnancy.

"Pregnancy is an important time in a woman's life, that may place her at greater risk for decreased physical activity," said Downs, who runs Penn State's Exercise Psychology Laboratory. "In fact, nearly 60% of women are sedentary during their pregnancy."

However, most medical professionals believe that exercise during pregnancy improves health and general well being. In order to convince pregnant women to exercise, the researchers need to know pregnant women's attitudes and beliefs on exercise.

"We do not know if some women are afraid exercise will harm the baby, that it will cause miscarriages or if cultural prohibitions against exercising while pregnant exist," said Downs.

Pregnant women are a major unresearched population. While gestational physiology is well studied, the psychology of ...