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Physical activity behaviour and role overload in mothers
Conference poster   Peer reviewed

Physical activity behaviour and role overload in mothers

Geoff Lovell, Frances R Butler and Rachael Sharman
Australian Psychological Society (APS) Conference: Psychology for a healthy nation, 48th (Cairns, Australia, 08-Oct-2013–12-Oct-2013)
Australian Psychological Society Ltd.
2013
url
http://www.psychology.org.au/View
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Abstract

Psychology Human Movement and Sports Science motherhood role overload physical activity psychological health
The experience of motherhood is commonly characterised by role overload and inability to find time and energy for adequate levels of physical activity (PA). Unfortunately, despite clear evidence that regular PA is linked to physical and psychological health, exercise and PA levels of women and mothers are low. In response to the limitations of previous research in this area, this current investigation aimed to explore PA behaviour, stage of PA behaviour change, and role overload in adult women with children in early childhood and middle childhood (early motherhood: Mother of a child less than six years, or as middle motherhood: Mother of a child aged 6 to 9 years and with no children under 6 years of age). Following ethical approval and informed consent 331 mothers (Mage = 35.5 years, SD = 6.8) over the age of 18 years with one or more children less than 14 years-of-age completed an on-line survey (85% completion rate). Results indicated that neither PA behaviour, t(329) = .227, p = .820, stages of physical activity change, 2(4) = 5.52, p = .340, nor role overload, t(329) = .635, p = .526, significantly differed across motherhood groups. Role overload was significantly higher for mothers in the contemplation, planning, and action stages of PA than in the maintenance stage of change, F(4, 326) = 5.06, p = .001. However, role overload was only weakly, although significantly negatively correlated with PA, r = -.184, p less than .001. While these findings do confirm that role overload is a factor associated with activity levels in mothers, the correlation analysis demonstrated that only less than 4% of a mother's PA is explained by her reported role overload. In conclusion, strategies focused upon reducing role overload or changing perceptions of role overload, have only limited potential to meaningfully increase PA in mothers.

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