Promotion of Women's Health through Exercise-Based and Educational Programs: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is focused into the physiological processes of women and the need for exercise patterns and educational strategies for promoting selfcare and health though life. Women experience specific hormonal changes during several stages of life, such as menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause, that affects their functional status in a different way to men. The gradual reduction of muscle function, bone mineral density loss, the deterioration of sensory systems, or changes in body composition are accelerated. This contributes to the worsening of functional independence and disability and an increased risk of hospitalization and mortality with advancing age. Moreover, this functional change impacts in not only the biological but also in the psychological and social domains, being associated in many cases with premenstrual syndrome, depression or anxiety, a lack of self esteem related to their body image, and other psychological factors that can lead to variations in their behavior, loneliness, and isolation. Government and healthcare system are implementing a range of strategies to promote health in women, such as the practice of regular exercise, that needs to be intensified with educational plans in order to consolidate the functional benefits.

According to these premises, this Special Issue aims to provide a multidisciplinary overview of the current strategies used to enhance women’s health. Thus, we are soliciting manuscripts addressing topics related to the impact of exercise in women, as well as the development of educational programs to promote their selfcare and health. Original articles and reviews based on the prevention or treatment of the physiological, psychological, or social impairments related to menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause through exercise or other physical techniques will be considered, either in healthy or in chronic disease samples. Paper dealing with the promotion of educational exercise-based initiatives to promote women’s selfcare and health will be also welcome.

Dr. María Carrasco-Poyatos
Guest Editor

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• women’s health
• exercise
• educational programs
• selfcare
• physiological
• psychological
• social
• functional
• menstrual cycle
• pregnancy
• menopause
• chronic disease

Title: The role of physical fitness in emotional well-being and distress during pregnancy. The GESTAFIT project.
Authors: Nuria Marín-Jiménez; Marta Flor-Alemany; Laura Baena-García; Pablo Corres; Cristina Molina-Hidalgo; Virginia A. Aparicio
Affiliation: Department of Nursing, Universidad de Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada
Abstract: Pregnancy involves various physiological, physical, and social changes that can impact the mental health of the woman, exerting on her a stressful experience. Despite the arising evidence of the positive association of physical fitness (PF) with different pregnancy outcomes, no previous studies have investigated its association with maternal emotional well-being and ill-being. One hundred fifty-eight pregnant women (32.9±4.7 years old) were included in this study. Self-reported PF was assessed with the valid and feasible International Fitness Scale [i.e., overall self-reported PF, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength, speed-agility, and flexibility]; positive and negative affect was measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule State (PANAS-S); emotional intelligence was assessed with the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS); and resilience with the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). At the 16th g.w., women with greater overall self-reported PF, CRF, muscular strength, and speed-agility showed higher positive affect (β values 0.194 to 0.299; all, p<0.05). Greater overall self-reported PF, CRF, speed-agility, and flexibility were associated with greater emotional intelligence (β values 0.183 to 0.282; all, p<0.05); similar associations were found with positive affect at the 34th g.w. Greater overall self-reported PF, CRF, muscular strength, and speed-agility were associated with lower negative affect (β values -0.217 to -0.241; all p<0.05); greater overall self-reported PF was associated with greater emotional intelligence-clarity (β=0.201, p=0.049); and greater overall self-reported PF, CRF, muscular strength and flexibility were associated with greater resilience (β values 0.196 to 0.238; all p<0.05). Our findings indicate that overall greater self-reported PF was associated with greater emotional well-being and less emotional distress during pregnancy. These findings underscore the pivotal role of PF in promoting emotional health and resilience during pregnancy, thereby highlighting the need for integrating PF enhancement strategies in prenatal care programs.