title: Why are adult women physically active? A systematic review of prospective cohort studies to identify intrapersonal, social environmental and physical environmental determinants.
abstract: This study aims to systematically review available evidence from prospective cohort studies to identify intrapersonal, social environmental and physical environmental determinants of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) among working-age women.
  
  
  
  Six databases were searched to identify all prospective cohort studies that reported on intrapersonal (e.g. self-efficacy and socioeconomic status [SES]), social (e.g. crime, area SES and social support) and/or physical (e.g. weather, work and recreation) environmental determinants of MVPA in working-age (mean 18-65 years) women. A qualitative synthesis including harvest plots was completed.
  
  
  
  CRD42014009750 RESULTS: Searching identified 17,387 potential articles; 97 were used in the analysis. The majority (n = 87 studies) reported on ≥1 intrapersonal determinant. Very few (n = 34) examined factors in the social or physical environments, and none looked at social policy. Positive and consistent influencers included higher self-efficacy (n = 18/23), self-rated health (n = 8/13) and intentions (n = 10/11) and perceived behavioural control (n = 5/7) to be physically active. Having children in the household was negatively related to MVPA (n = 9/15).
  
  
  
  Physical activity intervention studies should consider a woman's level of self-efficacy and perceived behavioural control to be physically active. Additional studies are needed on the impact of children in the household, having a spouse/partner and using group goal setting. More evidence is needed to evaluate the impact of environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada. sprinceware@ottawaheart.ca.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.|Population Health PhD Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martinello
authors.affiliation: School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ottawa, ON, Canada.|Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Adamo
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fodor
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, The Ottawa Hospital, Riverside Campus, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiremath
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kristjansson
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Nerenberg
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Tulloch
authors.affiliation: Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment
keywords: Determinants; physical activity; systematic review; women