'I'm letting them down': The perceived challenges for women when making life changes for health
Date
2023-09Author
Fox, Jackie
Erlandsson, Lena-Karin
Shiel, Agnes
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Fox, Jackie, Erlandsson, Lena-Karin, & Shiel, Agnes. (2023). 'I'm letting them down': The perceived challenges for women when making life changes for health. Paper presented at the 37th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Bremen, Germany, 04 - 08 September.
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Abstract
Background: ReDO-10® is a 10-week group programme facilitated by occupational therapists to support
people make changes to daily activities for a more satisfying and balanced everyday life. The programme was
piloted in primary care in Ireland for women with psychological distress. While women reported positive
outcomes, there were social/personal challenges and resources that influenced how well all women were able
to make life changes. The objectives of this analysis were to understand (1) the personal/social challenges
women faced when trying to implement new daily strategies for better wellbeing and (2) the personal/social
resources that supported their efforts.
Methods: Three ReDO®-10 groups were facilitated in 2019-2020 (n=21). Fourteen women were interviewed
after their participation. Data was analysed using directed content analysis with the Theoretical Domains
Framework (TDF) as a coding framework.
Findings: The TDF-guided analysis showed that women faced significant challenges in capabilities, motivation
and opportunities when trying new strategies. Beliefs about their own capabilities and about the consequences
changes would have on others were particularly influential. Socially, women with children and partners were
supported or hindered in making changes by interpersonal factors in the home and their own beliefs about their
social roles/identities.
Discussion: Those that attend healthcare interventions inhabit a life context and have personal strengths,
challenges and resources that can influence how likely health behaviour change is for them. Future
adaptations of ReDO®-10 can include more resources to better support women as they try to make changes
to daily activities