Examining Exercise-Related Cognitive Errors and Social Support for Physical Activity in Pregnancy.

Background: Worry about fetal health and lack of social support are commonly reported barriers to physical activity during pregnancy. Exercise-related cognitive errors (ECEs; eg, modifiable cognitions that cause individuals to catastrophize barriers to exercise) may have an independent association with physical activity and influence the relationship between social support and worry with physical activity. This study examined whether maternal-related worry, social support (from family and friends), ECEs, and their interactions differentiated the physical activity of pregnant individuals at 3 different levels: (1) active and meeting the prenatal physical activity guidelines, (2) active but not meeting the guidelines, and (3) inactive.