Playgroups as a setting for nutrition and physical activity interventions for mothers with young children: exploratory qualitative findings

Issue addressed: The child bearing years are associated with increased risk of weight gain for many women. Little is known about the attitudes and preferences for nutrition and physical activity interventions in this population. This research investigated the barriers and facilitators of mothers wit...

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Main Authors: Jones, Carlie, Burns, Sharyn, Howat, Peter, Jancey, Jonine, McManus, Alexandra, Carter, Owen
Format: Journal Article
Published: Australian Health Promotion Association 2010
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4347
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author Jones, Carlie
Burns, Sharyn
Howat, Peter
Jancey, Jonine
McManus, Alexandra
Carter, Owen
author_facet Jones, Carlie
Burns, Sharyn
Howat, Peter
Jancey, Jonine
McManus, Alexandra
Carter, Owen
author_sort Jones, Carlie
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Issue addressed: The child bearing years are associated with increased risk of weight gain for many women. Little is known about the attitudes and preferences for nutrition and physical activity interventions in this population. This research investigated the barriers and facilitators of mothers with young children to engage in healthy physical activity and nutrition behaviours. Methods: Eight focus groups were conducted with mothers (n=65) who attend Perth, metropolitan playgroups. Transcriptions from the groups plus observer notes were used to conduct a thematic analysis. Results: Participants were aware of the need for good nutrition and adequate physical activity but many failed to meet public health recommendations. Many participants were keen to improve their diet and increase their levels of physical activity. However, a major barrier to adopting and maintaining healthy diets and adequate physical activity levels was a shift in priorities from investing in their own health to investing in their children's. Conclusions: Interventions using a 'whole family' approach are more likely to be successful in engaging mothers. Interventions should focus on strengthening mothers' self efficacy surrounding eating and physical activity.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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last_indexed 2025-11-14T06:02:18Z
publishDate 2010
publisher Australian Health Promotion Association
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-43472017-01-30T10:38:35Z Playgroups as a setting for nutrition and physical activity interventions for mothers with young children: exploratory qualitative findings Jones, Carlie Burns, Sharyn Howat, Peter Jancey, Jonine McManus, Alexandra Carter, Owen Issue addressed: The child bearing years are associated with increased risk of weight gain for many women. Little is known about the attitudes and preferences for nutrition and physical activity interventions in this population. This research investigated the barriers and facilitators of mothers with young children to engage in healthy physical activity and nutrition behaviours. Methods: Eight focus groups were conducted with mothers (n=65) who attend Perth, metropolitan playgroups. Transcriptions from the groups plus observer notes were used to conduct a thematic analysis. Results: Participants were aware of the need for good nutrition and adequate physical activity but many failed to meet public health recommendations. Many participants were keen to improve their diet and increase their levels of physical activity. However, a major barrier to adopting and maintaining healthy diets and adequate physical activity levels was a shift in priorities from investing in their own health to investing in their children's. Conclusions: Interventions using a 'whole family' approach are more likely to be successful in engaging mothers. Interventions should focus on strengthening mothers' self efficacy surrounding eating and physical activity. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4347 Australian Health Promotion Association restricted
spellingShingle Jones, Carlie
Burns, Sharyn
Howat, Peter
Jancey, Jonine
McManus, Alexandra
Carter, Owen
Playgroups as a setting for nutrition and physical activity interventions for mothers with young children: exploratory qualitative findings
title Playgroups as a setting for nutrition and physical activity interventions for mothers with young children: exploratory qualitative findings
title_full Playgroups as a setting for nutrition and physical activity interventions for mothers with young children: exploratory qualitative findings
title_fullStr Playgroups as a setting for nutrition and physical activity interventions for mothers with young children: exploratory qualitative findings
title_full_unstemmed Playgroups as a setting for nutrition and physical activity interventions for mothers with young children: exploratory qualitative findings
title_short Playgroups as a setting for nutrition and physical activity interventions for mothers with young children: exploratory qualitative findings
title_sort playgroups as a setting for nutrition and physical activity interventions for mothers with young children: exploratory qualitative findings
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4347