title: Physical activity and sedentary behavior across 12 months in cohort samples of couples without children, expecting their first child, and expecting their second child.
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.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Medicine Laboratory, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria, PO Box 3015, STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P1, Canada, rhodes@uvic.ca.
authors.forename: Ryan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Chris M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.forename: Ryna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levy-Milne
authors.forename: Patti Jean
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Symons Downs
authors.forename: Darren E R
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Warburton
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D057185:Sedentary Behavior