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Abstract

Exploration of Perceptions and Attitudes of Couples in the Preconception Period in Relation to Healthy Eating and Healthy Body Weight: A Qualitative Study †

by
Eirini-Iro Arvanitidou
1,*,
Fotini Tsofliou
1 and
Juliet Wood
2
1
Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH12 5BB, UK
2
Department of Human and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH12 5BB, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the 14th European Nutrition Conference FENS 2023, Belgrade, Serbia, 14–17 November 2023.
Proceedings 2023, 91(1), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023091148
Published: 1 February 2024
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 14th European Nutrition Conference FENS 2023)
Versions Notes

Evidence suggests that parental overweight/obesity during the preconception period, which can be a year before conception [1], may adversely affect offsprings’ metabolic health in later life [2]. This study aimed to explore couples’ perceptions toward healthy eating and lifestyles in the preconception period, which can help inform the development of targeted interventions. Eight pregnancy-planning couples were recruited using purposive–snowballing sampling and participated in a semi-structured online interview. Recordings were anonymised, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using phenomenological thematic analysis [3]. Couples’ mean overall age was 34.3 years, and BMI was 26.8 kg/m2, while the majority held a postgraduate degree (n = 9). Data analysis revealed seven themes: mental health matters; lifestyle behaviours that could change; physical health matters; establishing healthier habits; all things diet; preconception knowledge; and need for guidance. Data indicated limited preconception knowledge, particularly evident in men. During our interview, most men realised that men’s preconception period can be important, indicating a lack of knowledge, and expressed interest in learning more: “…I would be happy also to ask for a professional advice, I’m just not sure if I would before this interview-if I would consider it necessary, now I do to be honest…”. The main motivators for making any dietary or lifestyle changes were to support maternal health, offer the “best start” to their child, and ensure they did the best they could to support a pregnancy. Most participants looked for information online when unsure and would welcome an online educational tool with opportunities to ask questions. Many explained that it is important to avoid information overload, while a few explained they did not look for information at all. Stress was a significant factor affecting efforts to implement changes (diet, smoking, body weight, sleep, exercise) and was one of the main behaviours that participants wanted to manage. Based on the results of this study, there is a paucity of knowledge around men’s preconception health. An online interactive education tool could support couples in the preconception period to achieve healthier habits.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, E.-I.A., F.T. and J.W.; methodology, E.-I.A., F.T. and J.W.; formal analysis, E.-I.A.; investigation, E.-I.A.; data curation, E.-I.A.; writing—original draft preparation, E.-I.A.; writing—review and editing, E.-I.A., F.T. and J.W.; supervision, F.T. and J.W.; project administration, E.-I.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Science, Technology & Health Research Ethics Panel, Bournemouth University; ethics ID: 32789.

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Data Availability Statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors on request following the first author’s PhD research completion.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Stephenson, J.; Heslehurst, N.; Hall, J.; Schoenaker, D.A.J.M.; Hutchinson, J.; Cade, J.E.; Poston, L.; Barrett, G.; Crozier, S.R.; Barker, M.; et al. Before the beginning: Nutrition and lifestyle in the preconception period and its importance for future health. Lancet 2018, 391, 1830–1841. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Pentecost, M.; Meloni, M. “It’s Never Too Early”: Preconception Care and Postgenomic Models of Life. Front. Sociol. 2020, 21, 521. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  3. Braun, V.; Clarke, V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual. Res. Psychol. 2006, 3, 77–101. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
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MDPI and ACS Style

Arvanitidou, E.-I.; Tsofliou, F.; Wood, J. Exploration of Perceptions and Attitudes of Couples in the Preconception Period in Relation to Healthy Eating and Healthy Body Weight: A Qualitative Study. Proceedings 2023, 91, 148. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023091148

AMA Style

Arvanitidou E-I, Tsofliou F, Wood J. Exploration of Perceptions and Attitudes of Couples in the Preconception Period in Relation to Healthy Eating and Healthy Body Weight: A Qualitative Study. Proceedings. 2023; 91(1):148. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023091148

Chicago/Turabian Style

Arvanitidou, Eirini-Iro, Fotini Tsofliou, and Juliet Wood. 2023. "Exploration of Perceptions and Attitudes of Couples in the Preconception Period in Relation to Healthy Eating and Healthy Body Weight: A Qualitative Study" Proceedings 91, no. 1: 148. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023091148

APA Style

Arvanitidou, E. -I., Tsofliou, F., & Wood, J. (2023). Exploration of Perceptions and Attitudes of Couples in the Preconception Period in Relation to Healthy Eating and Healthy Body Weight: A Qualitative Study. Proceedings, 91(1), 148. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023091148

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