Register      Login
Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Investigation of the self-reported health and health-related behaviours of Victorian mothers of school-aged children

Helen Bourke-Taylor A D , Aislinn Lalor A , Louise Farnworth A , Julie F. Pallant B , Elizabeth Knightbridge A and Gayle McLelland C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Occupational Therapy Department, School of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University PO Box 527, Frankston, Vic. 3199, Australia.

B Griffith Health Institute, G40 Griffith Health Centre, Level 8.86, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Qld 4222, Australia.

C School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, PO Box 527, Frankston, Vic. 3199, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: helen.bourke-taylor@monash.edu

Australian Journal of Primary Health 21(1) 66-73 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY13056
Submitted: 2 May 2013  Accepted: 27 August 2013   Published: 18 October 2013

Abstract

Lifestyle may influence many health-related issues currently facing Australian women. The extent to which women with school-aged children attend to their own health is unknown and the associations between health behaviours and health status requires investigation. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of health behaviours (alcohol consumption, health-promoting activities) and their impact on self-reported health (weight, sleep quality, mental health) among mothers of school-aged children in Victoria. Mail-out survey design (n = 263) including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and Health Promoting Activities Scale was used to explore issues. The results indicated that substantial numbers of mothers reported moderate to extreme DASS scores: depression (n = 45, 17%); anxiety (n = 41, 15.6%); stress (n = 57, 21.7%). The majority participated in physical activity less often than daily. High rates of daily alcohol use (20%) and poor sleep quality were reported. Nearly one-half (n = 114, 46%) of the sample were overweight or obese and also reported poorer mental health than other women in the sample (P < 0.001). Significant associations were detected between maternal weight, mental health and participation in health-promoting activities. The findings indicate that there is a need for increased health education and services for women with school-aged children. Direct services and population-based health promotion strategies may be required to address healthy lifestyle issues and educate mothers about the possible health legacy of poor health behaviours.


References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006) Time use on recreation and leisure activities. Cat. no. 4173.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008) Australian social trends 2008. Re-issue. Cat. no. 4102.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009) Australian Social Trends, using statistics to paint a picture of Australian society. Cat. no. 4102.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2010) Australian Social Trends Septemeber 2010. Australia’s workers: Education and workplace training. Cat. no. 4102.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011) Overweight and obesity in adults in Australia: a snapshot (2007–08). Cat. no. 4842.0.55.001. Available at http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/7DC7186F4A9950DECA25789C0023DCEF/$File/4842055001_200708.pdf [Verified June 2013]

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013) 2011 Census Quickstats: all people – usual residents. (Australian Bureau of Statistics: Canberra) Available at http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/0#weeklyincomes [Verified June 2013]

Australian Government (2010) Australia’s health. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra.

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (2010) National women’s health policy. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

Black C (2007) Women’s health: the new national agenda. (Australian Women’s Health Network: Canberra)

Bourke-Taylor H, Law M, Howie L, Pallant JF (2012) Development of the Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS) for measurement of mother’s participation in leisure. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 66, e1–e10.
Development of the Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS) for measurement of mother’s participation in leisure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bourke-Taylor H, Pallant JF, Law M, Howie L (2013) Relationships between sleep disruptions, health and care responsibilities among mothers of school-aged children with disabilities. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 49, 775–782.
Relationships between sleep disruptions, health and care responsibilities among mothers of school-aged children with disabilities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23745960PubMed |

Brown W, Byles J, Carrigan G, Dobson A, Dolja-Gore X, Gibson R, Young A (2006) Trends in women’s health: results from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health – priority conditions, risk factors and health behaviours. Available at http://www.alswh.org.au/images/content/pdf/major_reports/2006_major_report_a.pdf [Verified June 2013]

Department of Health and Ageing (2005) An active way to better health: national physical activity guidelines for adults. Available at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/BC3101B1FF200CA4CA256F9700154958/$File/adults_phys.pdf [Verified June 2013]

Dollman J (2010) Changing associations of Australian parents’ physical activity with their children’s sport participation: 1985 to 2004. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 34, 578–582.

Francis-Connolly E (1998) It never ends: mothering as a lifetime occupation. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 5, 149–155.
It never ends: mothering as a lifetime occupation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Francis-Connolly E (2000) Toward an understanding of mothering: a comparison of two motherhood stages. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 54, 281–289.
Toward an understanding of mothering: a comparison of two motherhood stages.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvitlyrsA%3D%3D&md5=474c57bd4043d7c3e549d8e153b3ac1fCAS | 10842684PubMed |

Gregory JE, Paxton SJ, Brozovic AM (2010) Maternal feeding practices, child eating behaviour and body mass index in preschool-aged children: a prospective analysis. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 7, e1–e10.
Maternal feeding practices, child eating behaviour and body mass index in preschool-aged children: a prospective analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Holton S, Fisher J, Rowe H (2010) Motherhood: is it good for women’s mental health? Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 28, 223–239.
Motherhood: is it good for women’s mental health?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lovibond SH, Lovibond PF (1995) ‘Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales.’ 2nd edn. (Psychology Foundation: Sydney)

Loxton D, Mooney R, Young AF (2006) The psychological health of sole mothers in Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia 184, 265–268.

Maloney E, Hutchinson D, Burns L, Mattick R (2010) Prevalence and patterns of problematic alcohol use among Australian parents. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 34, 495–501.
Prevalence and patterns of problematic alcohol use among Australian parents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21040178PubMed |

McLennan JD, Kotelchuck M (2000) Parental prevention practices for young children in the context of maternal depression. Pediatrics 105, 1090–1095.
Parental prevention practices for young children in the context of maternal depression.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c3ltleqsQ%3D%3D&md5=a6807cee3ddf4c94bfdc8302868f13f7CAS | 10790467PubMed |

Meltzer LJ, Johnson C, Crosette J, Ramos M, Mindell JA (2010) Prevalence of diagnosed sleep disorders in pediatric primary care practices. Pediatrics 125, e1410–e1418.
Prevalence of diagnosed sleep disorders in pediatric primary care practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20457689PubMed |

National Health and Medical Research Council (2009) Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

Schor EL, American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on the Family (2003) Family pediatrics: report of the Task Force on the Family. Pediatrics 111, 1541–1571.

Ventura AK, Birch LL (2008) Does parenting affect children’s eating and weight status? The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 5, e1– e12.
Does parenting affect children’s eating and weight status?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wiggs L (2009) Behavioural aspects of children’s sleep. Archives of Disease in Childhood 94, 59–62.
Behavioural aspects of children’s sleep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1M%2FgtlWhug%3D%3D&md5=9a733eb8eb471eed0969d72b080ab035CAS | 18977784PubMed |

World Health Organization (2012) Fact file: 10 facts on obesity. Available at http://www.who.int/en/ [Verified June 2013]