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Physical activity and sedentary behavior across 12 months in cohort samples of couples without children, expecting their first child, and expecting their second child

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Abstract

The onset of parenthood has been reported as a reason for steep declines in moderate–vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), but also increases in light activity rather than sedentary behavior. We examined the activity profiles of three cohorts of couples (couples without children, and first-time parents and second time parents) across 12 months. Participants were 314 adults (102 not expecting a child, 136 expecting first-child, 76 expecting second child) who completed baseline demographics and 7-day accelerometry, followed by assessments at 6 and 12 months. Hierarchical linear modeling showed that parents who were expecting their second child had lower MVPA; yet were less sedentary/had higher light intensity activity compared to other couples at baseline. First-time mothers’ physical activity pattern changed to match the profiles of parents who were now parenting two children across the first 12 months of child-rearing. Findings support MVPA interventions targeting new mothers.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Kai Reicken, Leila Pfaeffli, Rachel Mark, Cara Temmel and Gabriella Nasuti for the hard work of data-collection and entry during this project. RER is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Investigator Award and a Canadian Cancer Society Senior Scientist Award. CB is supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program DERW is supported by a CIHR Investigator Award and a Michael Smith Foundation of Health Research Clinical Scholar Award. This study was supported through funds from the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioural Medicine Laboratory, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria, PO Box 3015, STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P1, Canada

    Ryan E. Rhodes

  2. Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Chris M. Blanchard

  3. University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Cecilia Benoit & Patti Jean Naylor

  4. BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Ryna Levy-Milne

  5. The Pennsylvania State University, State College, University Park, PA, USA

    Danielle Symons Downs

  6. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Darren E. R. Warburton

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  1. Ryan E. Rhodes
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Correspondence to Ryan E. Rhodes.

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Rhodes, R.E., Blanchard, C.M., Benoit, C. et al. Physical activity and sedentary behavior across 12 months in cohort samples of couples without children, expecting their first child, and expecting their second child. J Behav Med 37, 533–542 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-013-9508-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-013-9508-7

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