title: Understanding exercise beliefs and behaviors in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the exercise beliefs and behaviors of postpartum women who had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during a recent pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postpartum women with GDM (n = 28) completed a mail survey assessing their self-reported exercise beliefs (advantages, barriers, and important social influences) and behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that 1) the strongest perceived advantage of exercise during pregnancy was controlling blood glucose and postpartum it was controlling weight, 2) the most common barrier to exercise during pregnancy was fatigue and postpartum it was a lack of time, 3) women's husband/partner most strongly influenced their exercise during pregnancy and postpartum, 4) women exercised more during the postpartum period than before or during pregnancy, and 5) the number of exercise advantages was positively associated with women's pregnancy and postpartum exercise behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To increase exercise behavior and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in women with GDM, researchers and health care professionals are encouraged to use women's exercise beliefs, that is, advantages, social influences, and perceived barriers to exercise, as a framework for designing effective diabetes treatment and prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Psychology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, 267-N Recreation Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-5701, USA. dsd11@psu.edu
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Symons Downs
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ulbrecht
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires