Assessment of Physical Activity Domains During Pregnancy and Their Association With Perinatal Outcomes in Women With Psychiatric Disorders

<b>Background:</b> Pregnant women with psychiatric disorders are vulnerable to mental health decline and obstetric complications. Although physical activity (PA) benefits pregnancy, little is known about how its domains-household, occupational, transport, leisure-manifest in this group and relate to outcomes. This study examined PA patterns across domains and their associations with psychiatric symptom severity and obstetric outcomes. <b>Methods:</b> This cross-sectional subanalysis included 64 pregnant women with psychiatric diagnoses at a public maternity hospital in Brazil. PA was measured using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire, diagnosis via SCID-5-CV, and symptom severity with the Clinical Global Impression. Obstetric outcomes came from medical records. Only moderate-to-vigorous PA was analyzed. <b>Results:</b> Most participants (84.6%) met WHO recommendations for weekly PA, mainly through household activities (median: 315 min/week). Leisure, transport, and occupational domains showed minimal activity (median: 0 min/week). Higher household PA was linked to adverse obstetric outcomes (<i>P</i> = 0.009). Leisure-time PA was associated with gestational diabetes (<i>P</i> = 0.003). No significant correlations appeared with psychiatric severity. <b>Conclusion:</b> While overall PA volume met health recommendations, it was predominantly in the domestic sphere. These patterns reflect structural and gender-based vulnerabilities and underscore the importance of context and autonomy in evaluating the health impacts of physical activity during pregnancy in this population.

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Publication Details

Journal
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine
Published
2025-11-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276251398812
Primary Topic
Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Type
article
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article

Assessment of Physical Activity Domains During Pregnancy and Their Association With Perinatal Outcomes in Women With Psychiatric Disorders

Vanessa Gentil de Oliveira Almeida, F. S. Santos, Juliana Nichterwitz Scherer, B.F. Althoff et al.
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine
Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
article

Assessment of Physical Activity Domains During Pregnancy and Their Association With Perinatal Outcomes in Women With Psychiatric Disorders

Vanessa Gentil de Oliveira Almeida, F. S. Santos, Juliana Nichterwitz Scherer, B.F. Althoff, Lucas Primo de Carvalho Alves, Luísa Karam de Mattos, Rita Oliveira, Ygor Arzeno Ferrão, M. E. Mellati
article en

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Pregnant women with psychiatric disorders are vulnerable to mental health decline and obstetric complications. Although physical activity (PA) benefits pregnancy, little is known about how its domains-household, occupational, transport, leisure-manifest in this group and relate to outcomes. This study examined PA patterns across domains and their associations with psychiatric symptom severity and obstetric outcomes. <b>Methods:</b> This cross-sectional subanalysis included 64 pregnant women with psychiatric diagnoses at a public maternity hospital in Brazil. PA was measured using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire, diagnosis via SCID-5-CV, and symptom severity with the Clinical Global Impression. Obstetric outcomes came from medical records. Only moderate-to-vigorous PA was analyzed. <b>Results:</b> Most participants (84.6%) met WHO recommendations for weekly PA, mainly through household activities (median: 315 min/week). Leisure, transport, and occupational domains showed minimal activity (median: 0 min/week). Higher household PA was linked to adverse obstetric outcomes (<i>P</i> = 0.009). Leisure-time PA was associated with gestational diabetes (<i>P</i> = 0.003). No significant correlations appeared with psychiatric severity. <b>Conclusion:</b> While overall PA volume met health recommendations, it was predominantly in the domestic sphere. These patterns reflect structural and gender-based vulnerabilities and underscore the importance of context and autonomy in evaluating the health impacts of physical activity during pregnancy in this population.

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine
Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (BR), Hospital Materno-Infantil (ES), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (BR), Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (BR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 56%
Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
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