Evidence-based trends and association between symptom disturbance and physical activity among pregnant women: A longitudinal study

Chen-Yu Yeh; Li-Yin Chien; Fang-Ming Hwang; Jian-Pei Huang; Ching-Fang Lee; Chun-Wei Chang

doi:10.1111/wvn.12647

Evidence-based trends and association between symptom disturbance and physical activity among pregnant women: A longitudinal study

Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 2023 Oct;20(5):465-475. doi: 10.1111/wvn.12647. Epub 2023 May 4.

Authors

Chen-Yu Yeh¹, Li-Yin Chien², Fang-Ming Hwang³, Jian-Pei Huang⁴, Ching-Fang Lee⁵, Chun-Wei Chang^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Institute of Community Health Care, College of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Yang Ming Campus, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Department of Education, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Nursing, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
⁷ School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

PMID: 37140131
DOI: 10.1111/wvn.12647

Abstract

Background: Women usually decrease their physical activity (PA) after becoming pregnant. The change in PA may influence their symptom distress (SD). The changes and correlations between SD and PA throughout pregnancy remain unclear.

Aims: The aims of this study were to describe PA and SD trajectories across all three trimesters and examine their correlations during pregnancy.

Methods: A repeated-measure longitudinal study with convenience sampling at a hospital in Northern Taiwan was performed. Participants were recruited at 8-16 weeks of gestation, and two follow-up visits were performed at 24-28 weeks of gestation (second trimester) and after 36 weeks of gestation (third trimester). A total of 225 participants completed the study. The participants completed the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) and Pregnancy-related Symptom Disturbance Scale (PSD), and sociodemographic and prenatal variables were recorded.

Results: Throughout pregnancy, SD decreased then increased, showing an overall upward trend, whereas PA showed the opposite pattern, increasing then decreasing, with an overall downward trend. Sedentary activity was positively correlated with both physical and psychological SD during the second and third trimesters. Exceeding the Institute of Medicine's recommendations for gestational weight gain, having childcare support, sport/exercise-type, and light-intensity PA were negatively associated with the physical and psychological SD, while a history of miscarriage and sedentary-intensity PA were positively associated with the physical and psychological SD.

Linking evidence to action: While several factors, including light-intensity PA, were found negatively associated with the physical and psychological SD, sedentary-intensity PA were positively associated with the physical and psychological SD, our findings shed light on future intervention strategies to relieve SD and decrease sedentary behavior among pregnant women.

Keywords: physical activity; physical symptoms; pregnancy; pregnant women; psychological symptoms; symptom disturbance.

Abstract

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