COMPARISON OF HEALTH BEHAVIOR AMONG WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT A CHILD

Abstract

The pandemic began in 2020, aggravating women’s life in different ways, distinctly those with or without a child (European Parliament, 2021). The rate of inactivity among 18-29 year olds increased from 46,04% to 61,15%, among 40-49 year olds from 68,92% to 83,11% (Ács, 2020). Our research aimed to demonstrate how pandemic has influenced physical activity of the women, and to compare the health behavior habits of women with (M) or without a child (WAC). We asked 84 university students and well-educated women with survey method living in Budapest without a child (n=47) and mothers (n=37). According to our results, 42% of the WAC group and 54% of the M group exercises daily or several times a week, six times more mothers take part in digital fitness classes, than the childless and 17% of the WAC and 24,3% of the M group are inactive. 44,7% of WAC group and 54,1% of M group are regular consumers of vitamins. Two times more mothers consume fruits and vegetables three to four times daily, than the childless group. 32,4% of the M group check the ingredients of packaged food as opposed to 15% of WAC group. Nearly three quarters of both groups have never smoked. 48,9% of the childless and 56,8% of mothers consume alcohol occasionally, and 36,2% of WAC and 27% of M group daily or often. Regarding their physical activity and health behavior habits, having access to digital fitness classes, mothers of this research provide good examples for the raised generation, in the difficulties of pandemic too.