Examining Exercise-Related Cognitive Errors and Social Support for Physical Activity in Pregnancy

Worry about fetal health and lack of social support are commonly reported barriers to physical activity during pregnancy. Exercise-related cognitive errors (ECEs; eg, modifiable cognitions that cause individuals to catastrophize barriers to exercise) may have an independent association with physical activity and influence the relationship between social support and worry with physical activity. This study examined whether maternal-related worry, social support (from family and friends), ECEs, and their interactions differentiated the physical activity of pregnant individuals at 3 different levels: (1) active and meeting the prenatal physical activity guidelines, (2) active but not meeting the guidelines, and (3) inactive.

This cross-sectional study included 360 North American pregnant participants (mean age = 27.96 [6.41], mean gestational age = 21.95 [7.49] wk). Measures of prenatal physical activity, maternal-related worry, social support from friends and from family, and ECEs were completed online.

Social support from friends was associated with lower odds of being inactive (vs meeting guidelines) and being active but not meeting guidelines (vs meeting guidelines) when ECEs were high (odds ratio = 0.25, z = -3.52, P < .001 and 0.36, z = -2.85, P < .01) or moderate (odds ratio = 0.37, z = -3.29, P < .001 and 0.54, z = -2.28, P < .05), but not low. Maternal worry was associated with higher odds of being active but not meeting guidelines (vs meeting guidelines) when ECEs were low (odds ratio = 1.70, z = 2.03, P < .05), but not moderate or high.

The relationship between social support from friends and maternal worry with physical activity level may differ based on a pregnant individual's level of ECE.