Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Education and Promotion

Advisor

Beverly H. Neville

Abstract

Working mothers have been associated with low levels of exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic. This population faces many challenges and obstacles to exercise as they manage a household and work; this lack of exercise could leave their health at risk. Researchers have not yet considered working mothers’ lived experiences with exercise during a pandemic. Existing research on working mothers indicates there are barriers to exercise for this population, but more information on what allows these mothers to sustain exercise is needed. This qualitative narrative study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of working mothers who maintained an exercise practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-efficacy theory, perceived barriers of the health belief model, and perceived behavioral control of the theory of planned behavior provided the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected from eight working mothers via an initial interview and a follow-up two weeks later; both interviews occurred virtually using Zoom. Data were analyzed for codes, categories, and themes using hand coding and the program MAXQDA. Nine themes emerged from the data: (a) exercising at home, (b) experience with exercise, (c) utilizing the built environment, (d) setting an example for kids/others, (e) self-care, (f) scheduling and preparation, (g) both physical and mental benefits, (h) family support, and (i) managing mom guilt. The study’s findings indicate that working mothers who sustain exercise are aware of barriers to exercise but use effective strategies such as scheduling and preparation along with previous experiences to sustain exercise. The findings from this research have potential implications for positive social change by influencing health education interventions that can help working mothers sustain exercise to improve their overall quality of life.

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