Postnatal Exercise Partners Study (PEEPS): a pilot randomized trial of a dyadic physical activity intervention for postpartum mothers and a significant other

Rachel Margaret Carr; Eleanor Quested; Andreas Stenling; Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani; Andrew Prestwich; Daniel Frank Gucciardi; Joanne McVeigh; Nikos Ntoumanis

doi:10.1080/21642850.2021.1902815

Postnatal Exercise Partners Study (PEEPS): a pilot randomized trial of a dyadic physical activity intervention for postpartum mothers and a significant other

Health Psychol Behav Med. 2021 Apr 7;9(1):251-284. doi: 10.1080/21642850.2021.1902815.

Authors

Rachel Margaret Carr^{1

2

3}, Eleanor Quested^{1

3}, Andreas Stenling⁴, Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani^{1

3}, Andrew Prestwich⁵, Daniel Frank Gucciardi^{1

3

6}, Joanne McVeigh^{1

7}, Nikos Ntoumanis^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
² Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK.
³ Physical Activity and Well-being Research Group, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Umeå university, Umeå, Sweden.
⁵ School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
⁶ School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
⁷ School of Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Research suggests dyadic interventions can increase physical activity; such interventions are untested within postpartum parent couples. Methods: A three-armed pilot randomized trial addressed this gap and tested which type of dyadic intervention is most effective. Inactive postpartum mothers and a significant other were recruited in Australia (n = 143 assessed for eligibility) and randomised in a single-blinded fashion (i.e. participants were blinded) to 1 of 3 dyadic conditions involving a single face-to-face session with access to web-based group support: a minimal treatment control (n = 34), collaborative planning group (n = 38), or collaborative planning + need supportive communication group (n = 30). Participants were asked to wear their accelerometers for 8 days and completed self-report measures at baseline, end of intervention (week 4), and follow-up (week 12). We expected dyads in the collaborative planning + need supportive communication group would have the greatest increases in Physical Activity (PA), autonomous motivation, and partners' need supportive behaviours; and decreases in controlled motivation and controlling partner behaviours. Results: Results from 51 dyads using Bayesian actor-partner interdependence models provided some evidence for a small positive effect on total PA at follow-up for postpartum mothers in the collaborative planning group and for partners in the collaborative planning + need supportive communication group. Furthermore, partners in the collaborative planning + need supportive communication group were more likely to engage in some vigorous PA. At follow-up, postpartum mothers in the collaborative planning + need supportive communication group scored lower on personal autonomous reasons. Conclusions: The impact of prior specification mean intervention effects need to be interpreted with caution. Progression to a full trial is warranted.

Keywords: Postpartum; dyads; mothers; physical activity; randomized controlled trial.

Grants and funding

Andreas Stenling was supported by an international postdoc grant from the Swedish Research Council [grant number dnr: 2017-00273].