Factors Associated with Sedentary Behavior in Pregnant Women: Insights from Multiple Linear Regression and Random Forest Model

Purpose

High levels of sedentary behavior (sitting for more than 6 hours a day) during pregnancy are a public health concern. Understanding the prevalence, patterns, and associated factors of sedentary behavior is important to develop targeted interventions, yet contemporary evidence remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and patterns of sedentary behavior and identify its associated factors among pregnant women using the Systems of Sedentary Behavior framework. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China, from October 2024 to April 2025. We recruited 655 pregnant women from a single tertiary hospital who completed the sedentary behavior subscale and physical activity subscale of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Pregnancy Discomforts Questionnaire, the Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale, and a sociodemographic and obstetrics data sheet. Multiple linear regression and random forest models were conducted to explore the associated factors.