MOTHERS IN MOTION: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EXPERIENCES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONGST MOTHERS WITH DEPENDANT CHILDREN.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that women have more constraints on leisure time than men due to larger responsibilities (Henderson & Bialeschki, 1991). In particular women who are mothers are less physically active than women who do not have children of the similar age (Brown, Lee,Mishra, & Bauman, 2000). The study explores the thoughts, feeling and experiences of mothers in rural Wales, their physical activity status and identifies the barriers they face when exercising. The study explored their feelings, thoughts and experiences through four semi-structured interviews with mothers ranging between 20 – 50 years old. Two of the mothers currently have dependant children whilst the other two previously had dependant children. The findings suggest that childcare responsibilities, cost of exercises, work commitments and the feeling of guilt were the important barriers they face when conducting physical activity. A better understanding can be vitally important in order to challenge these barriers and promote a greater physical activity status among women.