Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among personal factors (occupation, perceived of over-weight, and self-image), spouse support, and physical activity of postpartum women. The theoretical framework for the study was based on Pender's Health Promotion Model. The sample consisted of 120 postpartum women within 6 weeks after delivery who attended the postpartum clinic, department of obstetrics and gynecology in goverment public hospitals, Bangkok. Participants were selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected with the following questionnaires: Perceived of Over-Weight by Postpartum Women, Self-Image Questionnaire, Spouse Support Questionnaire and Physical Activity Questionnaire. The reliability of all instruments tested by Cronbach's alpha coefficients were .85, .78, .94 and .78, respectively. The statistics used in this study were percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-Square and Pearson's Product Moment Correlation. The major results of this study were as follows: 1. Mean scores of physical activity of postpartum women was at a moderate level ([Mean] = 2.24). 2. Personal factors (Occupation of postpartum women, perceived of over-weight, and self-image) were not significantly related to physical activity of postpartum women at .05 level. 3. There was a significant positive relationship (p < .05) between spouse support and physical activity of postpartum women (r = .540).