PRAM
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring people’s views of PeRinAtal exercise and its role for Mental health.
IRAS ID
321221
Contact name
Katharine Fowler
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Exercise guidelines recommend that expectant mothers should exercise for 150 minutes a week at low to moderate intensity in circumstances when a healthcare professional hasn't advised against it (Department of Health, American College of Sports Medicine). Exercise has been shown to be beneficial for physical and mental health in the general population, and on physical health in expectant mothers. There is evidence to suggest that exercise can help to reduce postnatal depression, but there is less research on other mental health conditions (e.g. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).
Previous research has suggested that barriers to exercise during pregnancy are; pregnancy related symptoms and fear of harm to the baby. However, research hasn’t focused on people with increased mental health needs. People with increased mental health needs may have different barriers or facilitators to exercising during pregnancy compared with those people that don’t have increased mental health needs during pregnancy and post birth. Knowing the barriers and facilitators to exercise during pregnancy, for people with increased mental health needs, may shape exercise programs for this cohort in the future.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
23/ES/0015
Date of REC Opinion
3 May 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion