Purpose: Little is known about how activity behaviours before and during pregnancy (pre-/pregnancy) relate to those in later parenthood. We assessed how women’s pre-/pregnancy sitting and moderate/strenuous exercise were associated with sedentary time and physical activity in established parenthood (6-7 years postpartum). 

Methods: In the Southampton Women’s Survey, women reported hours/week spent sitting and in moderate-strenuous exercise pre-pregnancy, and at 11 and 34 weeks’ gestation. Trajectories of pre-/pregnancy activity behaviour were derived using median splits of hours/week sitting and in moderate/strenuous exercise [e.g. 0-0-0: consistently low sitting or exercise pre-/pregnancy]. In established parenthood, women wore an accelerometer for ≤7 days; we derived two outcomes: daily minutes sedentary (SED) and in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Multi-level linear regression was used to explore the associations between pre-/pregnancy trajectories and device-measured SED/MVPA in established parenthood [i.e. sitting⇒SED and exercise⇒MVPA]. Analyses were adjusted for maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, educational attainment and ethnicity. Due to non-normality, MVPA data were log-transformed, with back-transformed coefficients presented as geometric mean ratios (GMR).

Results: 569 women provided valid data pre-/pregnancy and in established parenthood [device-measured activity: mean(SD) 5.4 (1.8) days]. Compared with consistent low sitters pre-/pregnancy, consistent high sitters were more sedentary in established parenthood (β=41.8 minutes/day (19.3, 64.1)). Compared to consistent low exercisers pre-/pregnancy, consistent high exercisers [i.e. 1-1-1] had a larger percentage increase in MVPA in established parenthood (GMR (95%CI): 1.26 (1.02, 1.56)); this equates to approximately 26% more MVPA in the consistent high exercisers vs. consistent low exercisers. Similar results were seen for women with variable pre-/pregnancy exercise ([0-1-0 or 1-0-1]; 1.27 (1.02, 1.59) and women increasing their exercise during pregnancy ([0-1-1 or 0-0-1]; 1.23 (1.00, 1.52)) (vs. consistent low exercisers).

Conclusions: Pre-/pregnancy trajectories of sitting and exercise are associated with sedentary time and MVPA respectively in established parenthood, suggesting that activity behaviours pre/pregnancy predict those in later adulthood, and despite becoming a parent. That those who engage in or start exercising during pregnancy (vs. consistent low exercisers) have higher MVPA later in life also hints that exercise during pregnancy confers positive benefits into later parenthood, possibly through management of pregnancy weight-gain.

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy improves maternal and foetal health. However, few pregnant women in Western populations meet the target of 150 minutes moderate intensity activity each week and little is known of  determinants of PA in pregnant women. This study aimed to assess changes in patterns of PA from preconception throughout pregnancy, and determine characteristics of pregnant women according to PA levels.

Methods: A prospective cohort of low risk pregnant women aged 18-45 years in Leeds, UK, completed self-reported questionnaires to assess PA 4 weeks before pregnancy (n=595), and in trimesters 1 (n=597) and 2 (n=633). Women were asked to report the length of time (minutes) per day spent performing light, moderate, or strenuous exercise. Answers were converted into metabolic equivalents (MET)-minutes per week values and categorised into low (<600 MET·mins·week^-1), moderate (601-2999 MET·mins·week^-1) or high (³3000 MET·mins·week^-1) activity levels using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire protocol. Participant characteristics were self-reported at recruitment and explored across PA levels.

Results: Total median MET·mins·week^-1 decreased from 4 weeks before pregnancy [3202 (IQR: 1744, 4836)] to trimester 1 [2662 (IQR: 1386, 4158), p<0.001)] and trimester 2 [2376: (IQR 1386, 3690), p=0.003)]. The percentage of women who were highly active decreased, from 51% preconception to 40% in trimester 2 (p<0.05). The proportion of women being moderately active increased from 40% preconception to 54% in trimester 2, and those in low activity decreased from 9% preconception to 7% in trimester 2. Compared to women in the low activity category, highly active women were more likely to be older, have a university degree, be Caucasian and less likely to be nulliparous (p<0.05).

Conclusions: PA decreased during pregnancy from preconception with signs of social patterning associated with PA levels. These factors would need to be accounted for in future studies of PA in pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, and can be used to better target health intervention aiming to increase PA during pregnancy.

Purpose

Emergency nursing is a physically demanding occupation yet research suggests emergency nurses do not meet current physical activity guidelines. Interventions to increase nurses’ physical activity have had limited effectiveness as they may unintentionally impact on the amount of physical activity nurses’ accumulate in another domains (e.g., leisure, household). Currently, little is known about how physical activity during leisure time may affect work activity and vice versa. This study aimed to determine the associations between emergency nurses’ activity levels at work and during their leisure time on work days.

Methods

Data from 49 emergency nurses (44 female, five male) participated in the Physical Activity in Emergency Departments (PACED) Study were analysed. Nurses wore an ActiGraph accelerometer and completed work and sleep diaries for up to four weeks. An activPAL inclinometer was simultaneously worn by 41 nurses. Time spent sedentary (SED), sitting, standing, stepping, and in light-, and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) during work and leisure time (before and after a shift) were determined. Multi-level analyses examined associations between emergency nurses’ activity levels and their work and their leisure time.

Results

On work days’ emergency nurses engaged in 39 minutes of MVPA. Increasing MVPA prior to a morning shift was associated with more SED time and less physical activity (light and MVPA) at work. Conversely, increased stepping time at work was associated with more sitting, standing and stepping time after each shift, but the opposite was observed for night shifts. Lastly, increases in sitting and standing time at work were associated with less sitting and stepping time after the shift, with less standing time observed specifically after a morning shift.  

Conclusions

This is the first study to examine associations between emergency nurses’ physical activity at work and their leisure time activity (and vice versa). The results demonstrate that increased physical activity before a morning shift may impact emergency nurses’ occupational activity. These findings provide critical insights into how and when researchers should intervene if seeking to increase physical activity levels to facilitate adequate recovery for nurses’ post-shift and balance competing demands on their leisure time.

Purpose: Shift-workers are predisposed to increased risk of circadian disruption, which is associated with higher risk of CVD and all-cause mortality. Increased physical activity (PA) and good sleep health (SH) may be protective against some of the poorer health outcomes observed in shift workers. However, few studies have compared the combined differences in PA and SH between shift-workers and day workers. This study aims to compare PA and SH in day and shift-workers.

Methods: Study population included full-time employed adults (≥18 years) who participated in the 2017 Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia (HILDA) study (n=7,378). Employment status was classified as day worker or shift-worker (night-time/rotating shifts). PA was assessed using the IPAQ-SF and SH from four self-reported items. A PA and SH score was calculated (0 – 6, where higher=lower risk) based on number of lower risk behaviours; ≥600 MET min.week of (1) walking, (2) moderate and (3) vigorous activity, meeting age-appropriate sleep duration recommendations on (4) work-days and (5) non-work days, and (6) no insomnia symptoms (having trouble initiating or maintaining sleep ≥3 days per week plus poor self-rated sleep). Linear regression was used to examine differences in the activity-sleep score between day and shift-workers, adjusted for covariates, which included age, sex, education, occupation, income, marital status, BMI, smoking, alcohol, diet, self-rated health, chronic disease status and mental health.

Results: Participants with complete data on all variables were included in analyses (n=5,253). Participants were predominantly men (61%), reported working in professional occupations (47%) and had an average age of 41 (SD 12.8) years. Shift work (n=522) was significantly associated with a decreased activity-sleep score compared to day workers (n=4,731) [β=-0.14; 95% CI: -0.26, -0.02]. The average score for shift-workers (mean=3.25, CI: 3.14 – 3.36] was significantly lower than day workers [mean= 3.39 points; CI: 3.36 – 3.43].

Conclusions: Full-time employed shift-workers have an overall higher risk pattern of PA and SH in comparison to day workers. Future studies including broader range of indicators (resistance training, sleep timing, domains and type of activity) may provide greater insight on the differences in overall activity and sleep patterns between day and shift-workers.

Purpose:Despite multiple interventions for promoting physical activity (PA) being delivered across Ireland, the majority of the population fail to meet the recommended levels of PA. Ireland’s national physical activity plan calls for collaboration between the relevant stakeholders to gain a better understanding into what interventions work, for whom, and in what context. The purpose of I-PARC is to bring together those stakeholders to find answers to these questions.

Methods:I-PARC uses a mixed methods approach to develop and transfer knowledge between researchers, policy makers and practitioners across three work packages (WPs). WP1 seeks to develop the collaboration, the project aims, objectives and methods of effective communication between the various stakeholders. A combination of surveys, workshops, interviews and iterative feedback from the I-PARC team has led to a practical standardised evaluation framework (SEF) for monitoring PA interventions (WP2). The same method is being used to develop good practice statements for successful evaluation (WP3)

Results:To date, I-PARC has brought together a research team (n=20), practitioner advisory group (n=25) and research advisory panel (n=6) involved with PA promotion. The collaboration has been enhanced through participation events (n=4), social media and an I-PARC website that has 1,725 views since March 2019. The SEF has been developed through observation of previous evaluation frameworks (n=12) and feedback from the collaboration (3 rounds). Using this feedback, the SEF has been revised through two versions, now asking questions to both the intervention coordinator (25 questions) and participants (8 questions). The SEF collects information around intervention reach, resources needed, cost and impact on PA levels.  

Conclusion:I-PARC highlights the need for effective partnerships in order to promote PA. This collaboration has allowed stakeholders to begin communicating their needs and aligning their goals for the promotion of PA as a whole system. I-PARC has seen the creation of a SEF that is more usable in practice than previous approaches and provides key information to both those involved in practice and policy. Furthermore, gathering information from those involved in the delivery of PA interventions will provide valuable insight into the facilitators and barriers of implementation.

Purpose: Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) have high sedentary behaviour (SB) rates, and low physical activity (PA) levels. Women in this population are reported to engage in significantly less moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) than men, however no research has explicitly explored the role of gender in PA and SB of adults with ID. Therefore, this study aimed to identify gender-specific correlates of objectively measured MVPA and SB in adults with ID.

Methods: A secondary data analysis of the pooled baseline data (n = 143; 51.7% female) of two Glasgow-based intervention studies recruiting adults (≥18 years old) with mild to profound ID. Objectively measured percentage time in MVPA (%MVPA) and percentage time in SB (%SB) were collected using GT3X+ Actigraph Accelerometers. Data was categorised by gender with four multiple regression models developed for %MVPA and %SB of each gender, with variable selection procedures employed. Correlates reflected the socio-ecological model. Data on self-efficacy for PA (SE) was only available for n = 94 participants, so bivariate correlations between SE and %MVPA / %SB of men and women were conducted.

Results: For men, age and presence of physical health problems were negatively associated with %MVPA (F (2, 57) = 10.172, p > .001, R² = .263), and presence of physical health problems were positively associated with %SB (F (1, 58) = 4.254, p = .044, R²= .068). For women, no correlates were retained in the final model for %MVPA, however, presence of a mental health problem and obesity were positively associated with %SB (F (2, 63) = 6.486, p = .003, R² = .171). SE was positively associated with %MVPA (F (1, 42) = 4.536, p = .039, R² = .097), and negatively associated with %SB (F (1, 42) = 8.708, p = .005, R² = .152) in women only.

Conclusions: Differences were observed in the correlates for each gender, making the lack of ID literature in this area concerning. Exploration of gender-specific factors, including psychosocial influences, such as SE, would inform the development of interventions to target PA and SB in adults with ID.