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Understanding Exercise Beliefs and Behaviors in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Exercise Psychology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Danielle Symons Downs, PhD, Department of Kinesiology, 267-N Recreation Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-5701. E-mail: dsd11{at}psu.edu

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to examine the exercise beliefs and behaviors of postpartum women who had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during a recent pregnancy.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Postpartum women with GDM (n = 28) completed a mail survey assessing their self-reported exercise beliefs (advantages, barriers, and important social influences) and behaviors.

RESULTS—We found that 1) the strongest perceived advantage of exercise during pregnancy was controlling blood glucose and postpartum it was controlling weight, 2) the most common barrier to exercise during pregnancy was fatigue and postpartum it was a lack of time, 3) women’s husband/partner most strongly influenced their exercise during pregnancy and postpartum, 4) women exercised more during the postpartum period than before or during pregnancy, and 5) the number of exercise advantages was positively associated with women’s pregnancy and postpartum exercise behavior.

CONCLUSIONS—To increase exercise behavior and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in women with GDM, researchers and health care professionals are encouraged to use women’s exercise beliefs, that is, advantages, social influences, and perceived barriers to exercise, as a framework for designing effective diabetes treatment and prevention programs.

Abbreviations: GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus • LTEQ, Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire • TPB, theory of planned behavior

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