Abstract
Working women with children are less likely to be active than women without children. One reason for this observation may be that working mothers (WM) have to concurrently manage multiple life demands in conjunction with physical activity (PA). Anderson et al (2008) found that concurrent self-regulatory efficacy (CSRE) and perceived barriers discriminated WM who were more and less active than public health recommendations. Based upon this research and the premises of social cognitive theory, we examined the congruency (match/mismatch) between WM’s proximal intentions and behaviour (i.e., meeting/not meeting PA guidelines). Second, WM’s PA barrier phenomenology was explored. Participants (n = 70) were dichotomized as having met/not met ACSM MVPA guidelines. They completed measures of MVPA, barrier type, frequency, limitation, and CSRE. Chi-square analysis examining the relation between PA levels and intention match/mismatch was significant (Χ2=16.45, p<.001). WM meeting guidelines were more likely to exercise more than their stated intentions, whereas those not meeting guidelines were more likely to exercise less. Post hoc analysis of these groups revealed that, while CSRE was moderate for both groups, perceived barrier frequency and limitation were greater for WM not meeting guidelines and exercising less than intended (p< .05). Time constraints and fatigue were the first-named barriers most frequently reported. Between PA groups comparisons of first- and second-named barriers revealed perceived limitation as the differentiating variable (p<.01). Taken together, subgroups of WM meeting/not meeting PA guidelines had differential congruency patterns of intentions and PA, with qualitative and quantitative differences in perceived PA barriers.
