Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Author Spotlight: Enhancing the Offspring Health in Rats with Maternal Exercise During Pregnancy
Published on: April 5, 2024
The intention to undertake physical activity in pregnant women using the theory of planned behaviour
Gangjiao Zhu1, Xiangzi Qian1, Ling Qi1
1College of Health Science and Nursing, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China.
Aim:
To identify the intention of Chinese pregnant women to undertake physical activity (PA) using the theory of planned behaviour.
Design:
A cross-sectional survey.
Methods:
From April - October 2017, a cross-sectional questionnaire was completed by 746 pregnant women from the Health Birth Cohort in Wuhan, China. The theory of planned behaviour variables as well as sociodemographic characteristics was recorded, and the Pregnancy PA Questionnaire was together used to assess their PA during pregnancy.
Results:
Only 11.3% of the women met the international guideline. The intention to undertake PA was found it to be positive in 63.9% of pregnant women. Structural equation modelling analysis revealed that behavioural attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control (PBC) influenced PA by directly influencing the behaviour intention. Both behavioural attitude and subjective norms influenced PA by indirectly affecting the behaviour. Overall, the model described 60% variance of the behavioural intention to undertake PA during pregnancy.
Conclusion:
PBC was confirmed to be a prominent factor in determining behavioural intention to undertake PA during pregnancy. Pregnant women should be helped and appropriately guided by health providers to overcome barriers to PA.
Effect:
This study investigates the effect of perceived behavioural control (PBC) on the intention to undertake physical activity (PA). The findings suggest that nurses' and midwives' attention should be focused on how to promote the improvement of perceived behavioural control ability of pregnant women to improve pregnant women's PA intention. The attitude of pregnant women on taking up PA and their ability to control behaviours can be improved with support from family or healthcare providers.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results...
Regression Toward the Mean
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation
Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...

