UCSF

Regular physical activity (PA) is recommended during pregnancy, but the prevalence of pregnant women who met the recommended level for PA is very low. In this descriptive study, we examined the association between spousal characteristics (belief, knowledge, social support, and PA level) and pregnant women's PA level in 18 couples living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Among other spousal characteristics, only spousal PA level was a significant predictor of pregnant women's PA level regardless of whether it was unadjusted or adjusted by spouses' age and body index mass (p = .01). Our finding shows a need to develop strategies to incorporate spousal support for PA.