Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Women's Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (7 July 2023) | Viewed by 17809

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Da̧browska-Galas Magdalena

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Kinesitherapy and Special Methods, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Interests: physical activity; stress; sleep; quality of life; women's health

Dr. Kuba Ptaszkowski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Obstetrics, Faculty of Health Science, Wroclaw Medical University, K. Bartla 5, 51-618 Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: physical activity; stress; sleep; quality of life; women's health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Women and girls have specific needs and opportunities to improve their health, well-being and quality of life at every stage of their lives. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a huge threat to global public health due to societal fear and anxiety, causing significant stress, affecting health and quality of life. Women tend to experience higher levels of stress than men. It is not always possible to identify the factor causing stress and eliminate it in everyday life. However, effective stress-relief strategies improve health and quality of life. Sleep problem is another factor which has a profound impact on overall health and quality of life. Sleep problems can affect anybody, however women are more likely to experience insomnia than men. Sleep may be affected by variation in hormonal changes in woman’s life and during women’s monthly menstrual cycle, stress, depression, pain, aging, and many other factors. Another factor that influence health is physical activity. Sedentary lifestyle has become one of the major public health problems in the 21^st century. Increased physical activity level is associated with reduced stress and improved physical and mental health Most studies on these areas focused more on older women, rather than younger women. No single factor explains worse health and quality of life in women at different stages of women’s lives. Multidisciplinary researches are still needed to provide guidelines to improve women’ quality of life in physical, mental, sociological or economic areas. The purpose of this research collection is to add to the current knowledge on:

Women’s physical activity level
ways of motivating to increase physical activity in women
stress-relief therapy
stress-related eating and obesity
insomnia in women
quality of life at every stage of women’s life.

Dr. Da̧browska-Galas Magdalena
Dr. Kuba Ptaszkowski
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

physical activity
stress
sleep
quality of life
women's health

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

18 pages, 361 KiB

Open AccessArticle

UAE Women’s Knowledge and Attitudes towards Physical Activity during Pregnancy

by Sharifa AlBlooshi, Rafiq Hijazi, Lynne Kennedy and Ala Al Rajabi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(17), 6669; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176669 - 29 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1314

Abstract

The benefits of being physically active during pregnancy are widely acknowledged. It is important for the prevention of chronic diseases and the promotion of good health for mothers and children. However, physical activity by women in the UAE is notoriously low and reduced further during pregnancy. The same can be said regarding research about the knowledge and understanding of the benefits and risks associated with exercise as a predictor of behavior. We aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes towards physical activity during pregnancy amongst Emirati women. A cross-sectional digital survey was designed to assess knowledge and attitudes and distributed to women, aged 18–40 years, using non-randomized, purposeful snowball sampling. A total of 1538 women were recruited. Most participants were aged 20–29 years (53.5%), were Emiratis (88.9%), and had no history of chronic disease (68.6%). The participants self-reported very low levels of PA (75.5%) and had a below-average level of knowledge overall (40.6 ± 20). Younger ages (p < 0.001), lower educational levels (p = 0.004), being employed (p = 0.014), and having a history of chronic disease (p = 0.016) were significantly associated with lower mean knowledge scores, while being married (p = 0.003) was significantly associated with higher scores. The participants also exhibited a positive attitude towards physical activity during pregnancy by selecting answers that they supported it. To encourage physical activity, women living in the UAE could benefit from clear advice about safe physical activity during pregnancy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life)

17 pages, 724 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Level of Physical Activity, Emotional State, and Health Habits of Women in Late Pregnancy and Early Puerperium

by Daria Kołomańska-Bogucka, Natalia Pławiak and Agnieszka I. Mazur-Bialy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031852 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1665

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the level of physical activity in the last trimester, the risk of developing postnatal depression, and general health habits in late pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Methods: The study population was women 1–8 days postpartum. Participants were divided into three groups depending on when they were recruited: (1) prepandemic (Ppan: n = 252, December 2019–March 2020), (2) COVID1 group (Cov1: n = 262, May 2020–September 2020), and (3) COVID2 group (Cov2: n = 226, June 2021–September 2021). The Ppan group included women from before the pandemic. The Cov1 group included patients after some restrictions were lifted. The Cov2 group included women after vaccinations became available. Research tools included a demographical questionnaire (age, education, childbirth details), the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Health Behavior Inventory (IZZ). Results: Regression analysis showed that regardless of other variables, women who gave birth during the pandemic spent less energy on total physical activity compared to the prepandemic group (Cov1: β = −18.930, 95%CI: −36.499 to −1.361; Cov2: β = −26.527, 95%CI: −44.322 to −8.733). We also found that as the risk of depression increased, engagement in general health habits decreased during the pandemic. Conclusions: The Covid-19 pandemic decreased the level of some subdomains of physical activity in pregnant women, with a general negative correlation between emotional state and healthy habits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life)

11 pages, 1305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chronotypes and their Association with Obesity-Related Lifestyle Behaviors among Young Female Adults

by Rawan A. Al Abdullatif, Shaea Alkahtani, Graham Finlayson and Maha H. Alhussain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1305; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021305 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1937

Abstract

Circadian rhythms have emerged as key influences on lifestyle behaviors. Circadian rhythms vary inter-individually, and people can be stratified by circadian preference, known as their chronotype, from extreme morning types to extreme evening types. Young adults undergo chronotype changes that involve shifts from morning to evening types. We aimed to examine the association between chronotype and obesity-related lifestyle behaviors, including dietary intake, physical activity, and sleep patterns, among young females. A total of 387 college female students aged 18–25 years completed this cross-sectional study. The participants were classified into three groups (morning, intermediate, and evening types) according to the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ; long version) score. Each individual’s anthropometry and body composition were measured. Dietary intakes were assessed using a 24-h dietary recall. The Bouchard Three-Day Physical Activity Record was used to assess physical activity levels. Sleep patterns were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The differences between chronotype groups were tested using a Chi-square test and one-way ANOVA. The chronotypes were significantly associated with sleep quality (p = 0.010) and daytime sleepiness (p = 0.035). However, no significant associations between dietary intake, physical activity, and sleep duration with the chronotypes were found. Our results show that both sleep quality and daytime sleepiness were associated with the chronotypes. Further research is warranted to identify the potential bidirectional associations between circadian rhythms and lifestyle behaviors among different age groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 576 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eating Behaviours in Sportswomen from the Silesian Training in Different Sports Disciplines

by Magdalena Rutkowska, Mariola Czajkowska, Iwona Nowakowska, Anna Kowalczyk, Tomasz Król, Magdalena Dąbrowska-Galas and Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16843; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416843 - 15 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1435

Abstract

Eating disorders are characterized by abnormal, unhealthy eating habits, and disordered body image. In severe cases, it can cause serious health consequences, including cardiac problems, osteoporosis, infertility, or missing menstrual periods. In women competitively training sports, the main cause for disordered eating behaviours are factors associated with dissatisfaction with their appearance and body image and a need to reduce body weight. Factors related to dissatisfaction with one’s own appearance and body image, a need to reduce body weight, a negative perception of themselves and their bodies, the pressure in sports circles, and stress are predictors for eating disorders. The aim of the study was to compare eating behaviours, body satisfaction, and taking various actions related to body mass reduction among women training competitively in volleyball, athletics, gymnastics, and young women not participating in sports. Material and methods: The study covered a group of girls and young women from the Silesian, Poland, who represented three sports disciplines (volleyball, athletics, and gymnastics), of which 30 girls were used as a control group (B). The study was conducted using a study questionnaire. Results: The study participants ate regularly and consumed all food groups during a week. The majority of girls from A1 (83.33%), A3 (53.33%), and B (80%) groups expressed their dissatisfaction with their body weight. In the group of gymnasts, a positive correlation was noted between the need to reduce body weight and regular eating (r = 0.449; p = 0.013). In the group of volleyball players, it was demonstrated that the higher the competitive experience and the greater the training load, the more regular their eating was (r = 0.475; p = 0.009). Conclusions: The importance of a diagnosis of early signs of eating disorders in girls and women as a basic component contributing to FAT development implies that further studies in this area, as well as education of the entire sports circle are necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Michalina Ilska, Anna Kołodziej-Zaleska, Ewa Banaś-Fiebrich, Anna Brandt-Salmeri, Ewa Janowska-Tyc, Anna Łyszczarz, Justina Rzewiczok, Bogusława Piela and Wojciech Cnota

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16747; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416747 - 13 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1515

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to compare assessments of health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) in women who had a medical qualification for cesarean section (CS), depending on the number of CSs in their medical history. A short longitudinal study was conducted among 115 women on the day before a planned cesarean section (CS)-T1, and on the third day after CS-T2. They were divided into three groups. G1: no CS (n = 17); G2: one CS (n = 34); G3: two or more CSs (n = 64). Participants completed a set of questionnaires concerning sociodemographic aspects and psychological outcomes: the HRQoL questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L). A chi-square test, McNemar’s test, and repeated measures ANOVA were used to compare the three groups in T1 and T2. Regardless of the number of CSs, before a CS, women mainly experience health problems with pain and anxiety/depression, and after a CS, mostly problems with pain, usual activity, and mobility. All participants experienced an increase in the amount of health problems with mobility and pain after a CS. Women who have had two or more CSs also had problems with self-care and usual activities. Women who have had one or two CSs experienced a decrease in the general assessment of the HRQoL, which is not observed in the group of women with multiple CSs. However, the HRQoL of women in the group with multiple CSs was lower before the CS than in the other groups. The results indicated the significance of the number of CSs, not only in postoperative, but also in preoperative HRQoL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 382 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Competitive Swimming on Menstrual Cycle Disorders and Subsequent Sports Injuries as Related to the Female Athlete Triad and on Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms

by Joanna Witkoś, Grzegorz Błażejewski, Magdalena Hagner-Derengowska and Kamila Makulec

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15854; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315854 - 28 Nov 2022

Viewed by 2119

Abstract

Background: An athlete’s menstrual cycle may be seriously disturbed when she undertakes a physical activity that exceeds the body’s adaptive capacity and/or applies dietary restrictions. The main aim of this study was to assess the impact of swimming training undertaken by participants of sport clubs on disorders of the menstrual cycle. Methods: The study involved 64 female athletes. The questionnaire utilized in this study was composed by the authors, however some of the questions were based on Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q). Results: 31.26% of swimmers reported that the menstrual cycle was stopped for more than 3 months, of which 21.88% had a menstrual absence for more than 6 months and 9.38% between 3 months and 6 months. Years of training were a positive predictor of the ‘more profuse bleeding’. There was a negative correlation between the disorders of the menstrual cycle, the body weight of the female participants (p < 0.05) and the body mass index (p < 0.01). It was found that with the severity of the degree of disorder in the menstrual cycle, the number of injuries among the surveyed swimmers increased (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The correct body weight of the participants was a positive predictor of the absence of the menstrual cycle disorders among the majority of women practicing swimming. Disorders in the menstrual cycle occurring in a certain percentage of the swimmers positively correlated with the number of injuries recorded among these swimmers. Swimming has been shown to alleviate some of the premenstrual symptoms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life)

13 pages, 395 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urinary Incontinence and Sleep Quality in Older Women with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Chia-Hui Li, Min-Huey Chung, Chun-Hou Liao, Ching-Chieh Su, Yen-Kuang Lin and Yuan-Mei Liao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15642; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315642 - 24 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1567

Abstract

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) and poor sleep negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study explored the UI-related factors and the relationships between UI, sleep quality, and HRQoL. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 237 women with type 2 diabetes. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify the factors associated with UI. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the mean sleep quality and HRQoL scores of women without UI and those who experienced UI of varying severities. Correlation coefficients were estimated, and multivariate linear regression was conducted to examine the relationships between UI severity, sleep quality, and HRQoL. Results: Of the 237 women, 115 (48.52%) experienced UI and 139 (58.65%) were poor sleepers. The three factors associated with UI were advanced age, a higher body mass index, and a history of vaginal delivery. Significant associations between UI severity and sleep quality and between sleep quality and HRQoL were revealed. UI severity and night-time voiding frequency were both associated with sleep quality. Conclusions: One factor associated with UI (body mass index) is modifiable. UI severity is associated with sleep quality as the possible influence of night-time voiding frequency on sleep quality has been considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life)

12 pages, 1157 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Physical Activity in Chinese Pregnant Women Using Multi-Theory Model: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Wei Zhang, Ying Jin, Ningning Liu, Zhenzhen Xiang, Xiaojuan Wang, Ping Xu, Pingping Guo, Minna Mao and Suwen Feng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13383; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013383 - 17 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1739

Abstract

Background: Physical activity (PA) brings many benefits to pregnant women and fetuses; however, the majority of pregnant women do not participate actively in PA during pregnancy. Objectives: This study aimed to: (1) assess the utility of Multi-Theory Model (MTM) to explain the intentions of PA behavior in Chinese pregnant women; (2) analyze the predictors in initiating and maintaining PA behavior based on MTM. Methods: A cross-sectional study including pregnant women was conducted from March to June 2022 at a university hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Participants completed measures that included a self-developed demographic questionnaire and a 29-item MTM questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the data. The reliability was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest stability. The construct validity was evaluated by using exploratory factor (EFA) analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: A total of 450 pregnant women participated in this study. The score of the magnitude of intention to initiate and maintain PA behavior during pregnancy was 2.30 (1.08) and 2.24 (1.09). The overall Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.857. A four-factor structure for initiation model and a three-factor structure for maintenance model were determined. Results of the CFA confirmed construct validity of subscales (initiation model: χ² = 206.123, df = 140, p < 0.001, χ²/df = 1.472, RMSEA = 0.046, SRMR = 0.0432, GFI = 0.913, CFI = 0.982; maintenance model: χ² = 49.742, df = 29, p < 0.001, χ²/df = 1.715, RMSEA = 0.057, SRMR = 0.0432, GFI = 0.958, CFI 0.985). The result of regression indicated that participatory dialogue (β = 0.030; p = 0.002), behavioral confidence (β = 0.128; p < 0.001), changes in physical environment (β = 0.041; p = 0.005), trimester (β = −0.192; p = 0.001), and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) (β = 0.408; p < 0.001) explained 52.1% variance in initiating PA behavior. Emotional transformation (β = 0.197; p < 0.001), practice for change (β = 0.083; p = 0.001), changes in social environment (β = 0.063; p < 0.001), pre-pregnancy exercise habit (β = −0.251; p = 0.001), and GDM (β = 0.298; p = 0.003) were significantly associated with pregnant women’s intentions to maintain PA behavior and explained 49.1% variance. Conclusions: The constructs of MTM were effective in explaining the intention to initiate and maintain PA behavior among Chinese pregnant women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Postmenopausal Women’s Self-Esteem and Physical Activity Level—A Survey Study from Poland

by Magdalena Dąbrowska-Galas and Agnieszka Drosdzol-Cop

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9558; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159558 - 3 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1463

Abstract

Introduction: Physical inactivity has become one of the major public health and economic concerns in Western societies. The consequences of physical inactivity are associated with many physical problems, however, the influence of physical activity (PA) on psychological health is unclear. The aims of our study were to assess self-esteem and physical activity levels in postmenopausal women and to examine the association between physical activity levels and self-esteem in this group. Material and methods: Survey research was conducted on postmenopausal women aged M = 58.81 ± 7.68 in women’s health clinics in Silesia, Poland. The total number of participants was 131, and 18 were excluded. A questionnaire with socio-demographic data and other international questionnaires were used: International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Beck Depression inventory. Results: 78.76% of postmenopausal women were physically active. Mean value of MET-min/week was M = 1543.46 ± 1060.92. A total of 11.51% of women reported low self-esteem, with the mean total value of SES M = 31.79 ± 2.93. There was a lack of correlation between total IPAQ score and self-esteem (r = −0.241, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Postmenopausal women have mostly average self-esteem. They are generally active, and walking is the most common form of physical activity, however, a higher PA level does not influence self-esteem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life)

17 pages, 400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Levels of Physical Activity in the Last Trimester, Life Satisfaction and Perceived Stress in Late Pregnancy and in the Early Puerperium

by Daria Kołomańska-Bogucka, Agnieszka Micek and Agnieszka I. Mazur-Bialy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 3066; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19053066 - 5 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2276

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the levels of physical activity during the third trimester of pregnancy, life satisfaction and stress in women in late pregnancy and early postpartum. Methods: The study was conducted among 740 patients of maternity wards in Cracow hospitals on days 1–8 postpartum. Patients who were surveyed before the pandemic (December 2019–March 2020) were included in the prepandemic group (PPan: n = 252). The second group of women (COVID 1 group, Cov1: n = 262) was examined in the early stages of the pandemic (May–September 2020). In turn, participants who were surveyed during the population vaccination campaign (June–September 2021) were qualified to the COVID 2 group (Cov2: n = 226). The research tools used were the original questionnaire in addition to standardized questionnaires assessing physical activity in the last trimester of pregnancy (the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire); previous life satisfaction (the Satisfaction with Life Scale); and stress levels during the last month (the Perceived Stress Scale). Results: During the pandemic, women reduced the level of energy spent on total physical activity; nevertheless, statistically significant differences were found only between the PPan and Cov2 groups (p = 0.001). At the early stages of the pandemic, patients significantly reduced mobility activities (Cov1 vs. PPan: p < 0.001; Cov1 vs. Cov2: p = 0.007), while late in the pandemic they spent less energy on household activities (Cov2 vs. PPan: p = 0.002, Cov2 vs. Cov1: p = 0.002). There were no differences in the levels of stress and life satisfaction. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the level of physical activity; however, it did not change levels of perceived stress and life satisfaction in women in late-stage pregnancy and in the early puerperium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life)

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Women’s Health: Physical Activity, Stress, Sleep and Quality of Life

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (10 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI