Fathers also face the same battle as mothers while balancing work and family, according to a Kansas State University study. The researchers said that fathers also experience similar obstacles as their partners including family responsibilities, guilt, lack of support, lack of time, scheduling constraints and work.
Although parenthood declines physical activity for both mothers and fathers, programs encouraging physical activity have been targeted to only working moms in the past.
"A decline or lack of exercise among working parents has mostly been recognized as a female issue," Emily Mailey, assistant professor of kinesiology, said in a statement. "The ethic of care theory - that females have been socialized to meet everyone else's needs before their own - explains why women feel guilty when they take time to exercise, though the same principle hasn't been studied for fathers."
For the study, working mothers and fathers reported barriers they meet to a consistent exercise routine. Lack of time and guilt were the top barriers for moms and dads.
Fathers found their children as one of the barriers to engaging in an exercise program more than mothers. Dads also reported family-related guilt was linked to time away from their wives and children, while mothers' guilt was associated with time away from their children.
"The guilt parents feel is because they think of exercise as a selfish behavior," Mailey said. "Fathers reported guilt related to family and taking time for themselves, whereas mothers reported guilt related to family, taking time for themselves and work."
The study titled "Physical activity barriers and facilitators among working mothers and fathers," is published in BioMed Central Public Health.
