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Overcoming barriers to exercise among parents: a social cognitive theory perspective

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Abstract

Parents face numerous barriers to exercise and exhibit high levels of inactivity. Examining theory-based determinants of exercise among parents may inform interventions for this population. The purpose of this study was to test a social-cognitive model of parental exercise participation over a 12-month period. Mothers (n = 226) and fathers (n = 70) of children <16 completed measures of exercise, barriers self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and exercise planning at baseline and 1 year later. Panel analyses were used to test the hypothesized relationships. Barriers self-efficacy was related to exercise directly and indirectly through perceived barriers and prioritization/planning. Prioritization and planning also mediated the relationship between perceived barriers and exercise. These paths remained significant at 12 months. These results suggest efforts to increase exercise in parents should focus on improving confidence to overcome exercise barriers, reducing perceptions of barriers, and helping parents make specific plans for prioritizing and engaging in exercise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, 1A Natatorium, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA

    Emily L. Mailey

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Siobhan M. Phillips

  3. Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    Deirdre Dlugonski

  4. Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    David E. Conroy

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  1. Emily L. Mailey
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Correspondence to Emily L. Mailey.

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Emily L. Mailey, Siobhan M. Phillips, Deirdre Dlugonski and David E. Conroy declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights and Informed consent

All procedures involving human participants were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Mailey, E.L., Phillips, S.M., Dlugonski, D. et al. Overcoming barriers to exercise among parents: a social cognitive theory perspective. J Behav Med 39, 599–609 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-016-9744-8

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