Relationships between Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Pregnant Women in the Second and Third Trimester

Justyna Krzepota, Dorota Sadowska and Elżbieta Biernat
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Justyna Krzepota: Department of Physical Culture and Health Promotion, University of Szczecin, al. Piastów 40b, blok 6, 71-065 Szczecin, Poland
Dorota Sadowska: Department of Physiology, Institute of Sport—National Research Institute, ul. Trylogii 2/16, 01-982 Warsaw, Poland
Elżbieta Biernat: Department of Tourism, Collegium of World Economy, Warsaw School of Economics, al. Niepodległości 162, 02-554 Warsaw, Poland

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: Background: The problem of an inadequate level of physical activity (PA) is important in the context of its relationship with the quality of life (QoL) of pregnant women. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between PA and QoL among pregnant women. Methods: The study analyzed 346 questionnaires filled in by pregnant women (157 in the second trimester and 189 in the third). The tool used for assessment of PA was the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire-Polish version (PPAQ-PL). The quality of life (QoL) was assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-short form (WHOQoL-Bref). The results obtained from the PPAQ-PL and WHOQoL-Bref questionnaires for women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and intergroup differences were analyzed. Results: There was a significant correlation in the group of women in the second trimester of pregnancy between quality of life in the physical health domain and the intensity and type of physical activity. The women who rated their quality of life higher in this domain declared higher energy expenditures (EE) associated with vigorous activity ( R = 0.159, p ≤ 0.05), as well as with occupational activity ( R = 0.166; p ≤ 0.05) and sport / exercise activity ( R = 0.187; p ≤ 0.05). In women in the third trimester, higher EE related to sport / exercise activity coincided with higher assessments of the overall quality of life ( R = 0.149, p ≤ 0.05) and general health ( R = 0.170, p ≤ 0.05). In the case of the psychological domain ( R = 0.161, p ≤ 0.05) and social relationship domain ( R = 0.188; p ≤ 0.05) of QoL, positive correlations occurred with EE related to vigorous activity . In contrast, high assessment of physical health domain coincided with higher EE related to occupational activity ( R = 0.174; p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Our study makes an important contribution to knowledge concerning the correlations between PA and QoL in pregnancy. The results suggest the need for improvement in prenatal care and promotion of PA programs for pregnant women.

Keywords: physical activity in pregnancy; PPAQ; quality of life; WHOQoL-Bref; pregnant women (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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