Emotional reactions to the outcomes of decisions: The role of counterfactual thought in the experience of regret and disappointment

decision making;consumer behavior

Feasibility and acceptability of a home-based physical activity program for postnatal women with depressive symptoms: A pilot study

Background Most postnatal women are inactive. Since new mothers, particularly those with heightened depressive symptoms experience several challenges to being active such as lack of time and childcare, home-based programs using hired exercise equipment may help overcome these barriers. This study tested the feasibility and acceptability of a home based treadmill intervention among postpartum women with heightened depressive symptoms. Methods Participants were 11 new mothers (3–9 months postpartum) who at baseline were insufficiently active and experiencing heightened depressive symptoms (based on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). Following participation in a 12-week physical activity support program (which included free treadmill hire and access to a purposely designed smartphone web-app), semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants. Depressive symptoms were assessed at weeks 4 and 8 and change in depressive symptoms was analysed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Thematic analyses were used to identify key themes in qualitative data. Results Quantitative data showed that there was a significant change over time with depressive symptoms decreasing from weeks 0–4 (mean difference = −5.9, 95% CI = −8.7, −5.5) and overall from weeks 0–8 (mean difference = −7.6, 95% CI = −9.8, −3.1). Postpartum women perceived the program to be convenient, flexible and acceptable. Women suggested that the program was useful in overcoming key barriers to physical activity and perceived that the program increased their physical activity and improved psychological health. Conclusion A home-based physical activity program involving cost-free exercise equipment hire was feasible and well accepted by postpartum women. The effectiveness of this program for increasing physical activity and improving mental health in this population should be further tested

Trial for reducing weight retention in new mums: a randomised controlled trial evaluating a low intensity, postpartum weight management programme

BACKGROUND: Failure to return to pregnancy weight by 6 months postpartum is associated with long-term obesity, as well as adverse health outcomes. This research evaluated a postpartum weight management programme for women with a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg m(-2) that combined behaviour change principles and a low-intensity delivery format with postpartum nutrition information. METHODS: Women were randomised at 24-28 weeks to control (supported care; SC) or intervention (enhanced care; EC) groups, stratified by BMI cohort. At 36 weeks of gestation, SC women received a \u27nutrition for breastfeeding\u27 resource and EC women received a nutrition assessment and goal-setting session about post-natal nutrition, plus a 6-month correspondence intervention requiring return of self-monitoring sheets. Weight change, anthropometry, diet, physical activity, breastfeeding, fasting glucose and insulin measures were assessed at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. RESULTS: Seventy-seven percent (40 EC and 41 SC) of the 105 women approached were recruited; 36 EC and 35 SC women received a programme and 66.7% and 48.6% completed the study, respectively. No significant differences were observed between any outcomes. Median [interquartile range (IQR)] weight change was EC: -1.1 (9.5) kg versus SC: -1.1 (7.5) kg (6 weeks to 6 months) and EC: +1.0 (8.7) kg versus SC: +2.3 (9) kg (prepregnancy to 6 months). Intervention women breastfed for half a month longer than control women (180 versus 164 days; P = 0.10). An average of 2.3 out of six activity sheets per participant was returned. CONCLUSIONS: Despite low intervention engagement, the high retention rate suggests this remains an area of interest to women. Future strategies must facilitate women\u27s engagement, be individually tailored, and include features that support behaviour change to decrease women\u27s risk of chronic health issues

Maternal dietary intake and physical activity habits during the postpartum period: associations with clinician advice in a sample of Australian first time mothers

Background Numerous health benefits are associated with achieving optimal diet and physical activity behaviours during and after pregnancy. Understanding predictors of these behaviours is an important public health consideration, yet little is known regarding associations between clinician advice and diet and physical activity behaviours in postpartum women. The aims of this study were to compare the frequency of dietary and physical activity advice provided by clinicians during and after pregnancy and assess if this advice is associated with postpartum diet and physical activity behaviours. Methods First time mothers (n = 448) enrolled in the Melbourne InFANT Extend trial completed the Cancer Council of Australia’s Food Frequency Questionnaire when they were three to four months postpartum, which assessed usual fruit and vegetable intake (serves/day). Total physical activity time, time spent walking and time in both moderate and vigorous activity for the previous week (min/week) were assessed using the Active Australia Survey. Advice received during and following pregnancy were assessed by separate survey items, which asked whether a healthcare practitioner had discussed eating a healthy diet and being physically active. Linear and logistic regression assessed associations of advice with dietary intake and physical activity. Results In total, 8.6 % of women met guidelines for combined fruit and vegetable intake. Overall, mean total physical activity time was 350.9 ± 281.1 min/week. Time spent walking (251.97 ± 196.78 min/week), was greater than time spent in moderate (36.68 ± 88.58 min/week) or vigorous activity (61.74 ± 109.96 min/week) and 63.2 % of women were meeting physical activity recommendations. The majority of women reported they received advice regarding healthy eating (87.1 %) and physical activity (82.8 %) during pregnancy. Fewer women reported receiving healthy eating (47.5 %) and physical activity (51.9 %) advice by three months postpartum. There was no significant association found between provision of dietary and/or physical activity advice, and mother’s dietary intakes or physical activity levels. Conclusions Healthy diet and physical activity advice was received less after pregnancy than during pregnancy yet no association between receipt of advice and behaviour was observed. More intensive approaches than provision of advice may be required to promote healthy diet and physical activity behaviours in new mothers