LAUSR

Background Maternal self-care, or behaviors facilitating healthy eating, physical activity (PA), and stress management practices, may play an important role in child weight status. Few childhood obesity interventions, however, consider maternal self-care and health practices. Objective To understand existing beliefs, practices, and supports or barriers related to self-care in mothers of preschoolers in rural communities via in-depth interviews, and develop and refine a theory-based self-care intervention using Intervention Mapping (IM). Study Design, Setting, Participants A semi-structured interview guide was developed using Social Cognitive Theory constructs and pilot tested to establish content and face validity. Telephone interviews with mothers (n = 19) recruited from preschool centers in rural Colorado were conducted by a trained researcher. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed using an iterative approach. IM steps were then followed: formulation of change objectives, material creation, and implementation/evaluation plan development. Results Three interview themes emerged: self-care practices; facilitators and barriers; and resources. Mothers had varying definitions of self-care and contexts in which self-care strategies were used. The majority of participants described self-care practices as important for helping them be a better mom, but reported infrequent practices of self-care. Barriers such as time, access to healthy food options or facilities for PA, and exhaustion made incorporation difficult in daily life. This input guided IM for the development of a self-care program which includes 2 workshops, 4 remote health coaching sessions, and a companion website. Topics addressed include what defines self-care, how to incorporate self-care behaviors into a busy life, and how self-care can benefit families. Conclusions Understanding mothers’ existing self-care practices and beliefs provided insights to inform and guide the development and refinement of a self-care intervention using IM. A maternal self-care intervention offers a unique approach to childhood obesity prevention efforts.