Beyond physical activity: perceived barriers to physical activity and multidimensional quality of life in pregnant women

Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy is associated with numerous maternal health benefits and improved quality of life (QOL). However, many pregnant women experience barriers that may limit their participation in PA. Evidence regarding the relationship between perceived barriers to physical activity (PBPA) and different dimensions of QOL during pregnancy remains limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the association between PBPA and QOL among pregnant women. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 556 pregnant women aged 18–45 years attending antenatal clinics affiliated with Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic and obstetric questionnaire, the Barriers to Physical Activity During Pregnancy Scale (BPAPS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF). Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to assess associations between PBPA and quality-of-life domains. Crude and adjusted linear regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between PBPA and quality-of-life outcomes after controlling for maternal age, education level, income level, number of children, and participation in prenatal education classes. PBPA were negatively correlated with all domains of QOL. The strongest correlation was observed between total barriers and the physical health domain ( r = -0.47). In adjusted regression analyses, higher perceived barriers were significantly associated with lower scores in physical health (B = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.13 to -0.093, p < 0.001), psychological health (B = -0.05, 95% CI: -0.077 to -0.040, p < 0.001), social relationships (B = -0.033, 95% CI: -0.043 to -0.023, p < 0.001), environmental health (B = -0.081, 95% CI: -0.10 to -0.062, p < 0.001), and overall QOL (B = -0.019, 95% CI: -0.026 to -0.012, p < 0.001). Higher PBPA were independently associated with poorer QOL across all domains among pregnant women. Pregnancy-related, interpersonal, and environmental PBPA may represent relevant correlates of maternal QOL during pregnancy.