How does MobileMums work? Mediators of a physical activity intervention.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral science
• Public health
• Exercise science

Background:

• Maternal physical activity is crucial for health, yet often declines post-childbirth.
• Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) provides a framework for understanding behavior change, but its application in maternal physical activity interventions needs further exploration.
• The MobileMums program (MMP) aimed to increase moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in mothers with young children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify which SCT constructs mediated the MMP's impact on MVPA duration and frequency.
• To understand the psychological and social mechanisms underlying the MMP's effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of a community-based randomized controlled trial data.
• Intervention involved tailored text messages and counseling sessions over 12 weeks.
• Assessed mediators included barrier self-efficacy, goal setting, outcome expectancies, perceived environmental and social support for physical activity.

Main Results:

• Improvements in MVPA frequency were mediated by enhanced barrier self-efficacy, goal setting skills, outcome expectancies, and perceived social support.
• Improvements in MVPA duration were mediated by enhanced barrier self-efficacy and goal setting skills.
• The MMP successfully targeted and improved these SCT constructs.

Conclusions:

• The MMP effectively increased MVPA in mothers by improving specific SCT constructs.
• Barrier self-efficacy and goal setting skills are key mediators for increasing both the duration and frequency of MVPA.
• Findings support the refinement and translation of the MMP and inform future theory- and evidence-based physical activity interventions for this population.