Women maintaining physical activity at midlife: Contextual complexities.

Judy Yarwood , Jennifer B. Carryer and Mary Jo Gagan

Nursing Praxis in New Zealand,

2005

admin@nursingpraxisnz.org.nz

For many, particularly women at midlife, how physical activity is maintained is both complex and poorly understood. This paper describes a qualitative feminist study in which 10 midlife women participated in two semi-structured interviews to explore factors influencing their ability to maintain physical activity over time. A thematic analysis uncovered participants’ beliefs and behaviours regarding their experience of, and strategies used to maintain, regular activity. Four core themes emerged; ‘exercise is part of me, part of my life’, ‘the importance of being fit and healthy’, ‘exercise interweaves and changes with life situations’, and ‘constraints and conflicts’. Encompassed within these four was a desire for life long good health and physical fitness. Maintaining regular physical activity was intrinsically connected to family, relationships and work. The authors conclude that the study indicate how important it is for nurses to consider contextual realities when encouraging and supporting midlife women to maintain physical activity

Keywords:

female, participation, physical activity, wm

Qualitative

Facilities

994

November 15, 2011

December 13, 2011