EXPLORING SELF-EFFICACY AND RESILIENCE FOR LEISURE TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FROM PREGNANCY THROUGH 12-MONTHS POSTPARTUM

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore potential changes in self-efficacy and resilience for leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), from late pregnancy to 12-months postpartum, in individuals with pregnancy-induced hyperglycemia. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of data from the Project Wellness randomized controlled feasibility trial (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT04209348; N = 20), which tested a behavioral physical activity (PA) intervention vs. a control intervention during pregnancy; both were followed by a 12-month observation period. Surveys were administered at baseline (i.e., in late pregnancy), and at 3, 6, and 12-months postpartum (i.e., during the post-intervention follow-up period). Survey items used a Likert scale (from 0 to 10) to assess attitudes. Items were categorized as contributing to self-efficacy (6 items) if relating to internal perceptions of confidence to perform LTPA (e.g., when feeling depressed), or resilience (6 items) if assessing one’s ability to overcome external barriers (e.g., when there are competing interests). Mean individual level scores were compared over time with Repeated Measures ANOVA in SPSS, both overall and stratified by randomized assignment (i.e., pregnancy PA intervention vs. control). RESULTS: There were no differences in self-efficacy over time. Overall and in the control group, there were no differences in resilience, but a significant decrease in resilience was observed in the intervention group, whose lowest resilience was at 3 and 6-months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a decrease in resilience in the intervention group during the postpartum period, when they were removed from the PA intervention. Interventions promoting LTPA in pregnancy should consider extending through postpartum to improve resilience in this life stage. Supported by: NIH NIDDK- K01DK105106