Article

Cross-sectional associations between sitting at work and psychological distress: Reducing sitting time may benefit mental health

June 2013
Mental Health and Physical Activity 6(2):103–109

DOI:10.1016/j.mhpa.2013.06.004

Authors:

Michelle Kilpatrick

University of Tasmania

Brook Teale

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Problem Evidence is emerging of adverse associations between prolonged sitting at work and physical health, yet little is known about occupational sitting and mental health. This study examined associations between occupational sitting and psychological distress in employed adults, independent of leisure-time physical activity. Methods A survey of 3367 state government employees (mean age 46.2 years, 71.9% women) was conducted in Tasmania, Australia, during 2010 as part of an evaluation of workplace health and wellbeing programs. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was used to measure psychological distress, and participants reported time spent sitting at work on a typical day. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Ratios of prevalence (PR) for categories of psychological distress were estimated by log multinomial regression separately for men and women, and with adjustment for age, marital status, effort-reward imbalance and leisure-time physical activity. Results Average reported occupational sitting time was 4.8 (Standard Deviation SD = 2.5) hours for men and 4.2 (SD = 2.7) hours for women. Compared to those sitting at work less than 3 h/day, men sitting more than 6 h/day had increased prevalence of moderate psychological distress (adjusted PR = 1.90, 95%CI 1.22, 2.95), and women sitting more than 6 h/day had an increased prevalence of moderate (adjusted PR = 1.25, 95%CI 1.05, 1.49) and high (adjusted PR = 1.76, 95%CI 1.25, 2.47) distress. Conclusion The current study found an association between occupational sitting and intermediate levels of psychological distress, independent of leisure-time physical activity. Reducing occupational sitting time may have mental health benefits.

Participation in the Global Corporate Challenge®, a Four-Month Workplace Pedometer Program, Reduces Psychological Distress

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2023
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

Background: Psychological distress (stress) has been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases and is exacerbated by a range of workplace factors. Physical activity has been shown to alleviate psychological distress. Previous pedometer-based intervention evaluations have tended to focus on physical health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the immediate and long-term changes in psychological distress in employees based in Melbourne, Australia after their participation in a four-month pedometer-based program in sedentary workplaces. Methods: At baseline, 716 adults (aged 40 ± 10 years, 40% male) employed in primarily sedentary occupations, voluntarily enrolled in the Global Corporate Challenge© (GCC©), recruited from 10 Australian workplaces to participate in the GCC® Evaluation Study, completed the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Of these, 422 completed the K10 at baseline, 4 months and 12 months. Results: Psychological distress reduced after participation in a four-month workplace pedometer-based program, which was sustained eight months after the program ended. Participants achieving the program goal of 10,000 steps per day or with higher baseline psychological distress had the greatest immediate and sustained reductions in psychological distress. Demographic predictors of immediate reduced psychological distress (n = 489) was having an associate professional occupation, younger age, and being 'widowed, separated or divorced'. Conclusions: Participation in a workplace pedometer-based program is associated with a sustained reduction in psychological distress. Low-impact physical health programs conducted in groups or teams that integrate a social component may be an avenue to improve both physical and psychological health in the workplace.

Is device-based total and domain-specific sedentary behaviour associated with psychological distress in Flemish workers?

Article

Sep 2020
EUR J PUBLIC HEALTH

Background: There is increasing interest in the association between psychological distress and time spent in sedentary behaviour (e.g. sitting), a highly prevalent behaviour in modern society. The limited evidence is mixed and mainly based on studies using self-reported sedentary time. Few studies have investigated device-based total sedentary time in its association with distress. None, however, have examined device-based domain-specific sedentary time in relation to psychological distress. The aim of this study was to investigate whether device-based total and domain-specific sedentary behaviour were associated with psychological distress. Methods: Flemish employees (n = 401; 20-64 years; 42.6% male; 83.6% had a 'physically active occupation') of seven organizations in service and production sectors participated. Sedentary behaviour (exposure) was assessed by two Axivity AX3 accelerometers (one placed on the thigh and one placed between the shoulders) for two to four consecutive working days. Based on diary completion, domain-specific sedentary behaviour (leisure vs. work) was assessed. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire was used to assess psychological distress (outcome). Adjusted hierarchical multiple regression models were conducted to report on the associations between total and domain-specific sedentary behaviour and psychological distress. Results: About 35% of the sample had high levels of distress and average total sedentary time was 7.2 h/day. Device-based total sedentary behaviour [B = -0.009, 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.087 to 0.068], leisure-time (B = 0.001, 95% CI, -0.017 to 0.018) and work-related (B = 0.004, 95% CI, -0.006 to 0.015) sedentary behaviour were not significantly associated with psychological distress. Conclusion: This cross-sectional study examining the association between device-based total and domain-specific sedentary behaviour and psychological distress among employees showed a lack of significant findings.

Domain-specific and total sedentary behaviors associated with psychological distress in older adults

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2019

Purpose: Time spent in sedentary behaviors has become a major public health problem, affecting both physical and mental conditions, which is regularly evident in older adults. The aim of this study was to explore the association between each domain-specific sedentary behavior (screen-time, leisure-time sedentary behavior and transport) and total sedentary behavior (sum of all indicators) with ‘high’ psychological distress among older individuals. Patients and methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 810 participants aged ≥85 (16% men) from six neighborhoods in the city of Zagreb. We used Measure of Older Adults’ Sedentary Time sedentary behavior questionnaire to assess the time spent in a specific domain of sedentary behavior and Kessler K6 scale to assess the level of psychological distress. Participants who had score ≥13 points were treated as those with ‘high’ psychological distress. Generalized estimating equations with Poisson regression models and risk ratios were used to calculate the association. Results: After adjusting for sex, body-mass index, sleep quality, self-rated health, material status, physical activity, diet and chronic diseases, participants categorized in the second, third and fourth quartile of screen-time, in the fourth quartile of leisure-time sedentary behavior and in the third and fourth quartile of total sedentary behavior were less likely to have ‘high’ psychological distress. However, participants categorized in the fourth quartile of transport were more likely to have ‘high’ psychological distress. Conclusion: Our study shows that more time spent in front of screens, leisure and in total sedentary behavior is associated with lower levels, while more time spent in transport is associated with higher levels of psychological distress, pointing out that the aforementioned associations remained even after adjusting for variables describing ‘general’ physical health. Thus, strategies aiming to reduce the time spent in passive transport and enhance active transport in a sample of older adults are warranted. Key words: geriatrics, mental health, sitting, associations, generalized estimating equations

Active workplace -Association between workplace layout and physical activity among employees: A cross-sectional study

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2023

Active design is the translation of health research into design solutions that amplify the role of architecture and urban planning in enhancing public health, it focuses on elements of the built environment that can encourage daily physical activity. Office employees are one of the demographics "at risk" for insufficient physical activity and prolonged sitting time. The spatial environment of the workplace has indeed been recognized as a correlate of workers' active and sedentary behaviors. This study aims to examine the association between workplace layout typology and employees' physical activity, sedentary behavior, and health. A multi-method approach was conducted for collecting data in four governmental office buildings in Erbil city between April 2022 and June 2022. Qualitative data collection includes architectural plan analysis and photography. Quantitative data collection includes a self-reported questionnaire by participating 132 desk-based employees measuring daily physical activity, sedentary behavior, and physical and mental health. For analyzing the collected responses from the desk-based employees of government office buildings, IBM SPSS (statistical package for the social sciences) software V.25 was adopted. The result shows that there is a significant difference in the mean value of physical activity among employees. Despite the low level of physical activity, employees working in linear layout buildings were more physically active than those in radial layout (linear=1.31, P-value < 0.000; radial = 1.13, P-value<0.000). The result also shows that there is a significant positive relation between sedentary behavior and physical health (r= 0.191, P-value<0.05), and mental health (r= 0.172, P-value<0.05). On the basis of these findings, we can infer that improving the quality of the built environment and implementing active design solutions contribute to promoting physical activity, decreasing sedentary behavior, and enhancing occupational health.

Studying the effect of multicomponent nano-coating alloy on hydrogen embrittlement of AISI 1018 steel by gas-phase process

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2022

The present study is attempted to investigate the inﬂuence of multicomponent Ni-alloy (BNi-2) on the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) behavior of AISI 1018 steel by using cathodic protection and tensile test. The results show that the HE indexes (HEI) decrease notably when AISI 1018 steel is coated with BNi-2 alloy by DC sputtering process. This coating processes leads to decrease in HE susceptibility of the AISI 1018 steel, which can be rationalized to the enhancement in corrosion resistance and the decrease in hydrogen absorption of the AISI 1018 steel after coating. The tensile strengths of bared samples were decreased with increasing charging time until 24 hours when stable at values 350 MPa. while the coated samples showed an increasement in the tensile strength from 570 MPa to 750 MPa. stabilization in strength at value of 600 MPa was observed after exceeding 48 hours. Also, the tensile test for uncoated specimens indicated a clear reduction on the modulus of elasticity compared with other coated ones.

Self-reported domain-specific and accelerometer-based physical activity and sedentary behaviour in relation to psychological distress among an urban Asian population

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2018
INT J BEHAV NUTR PHY

Background The interpretation of previous studies on the association of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with psychological health is limited by the use of mostly self-reported physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and a focus on Western populations. We aimed to explore the association of self-reported and devise-based measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviour domains on psychological distress in an urban multi-ethnic Asian population. Methods From a population-based cross-sectional study of adults aged 18–79 years, data were used from an overall sample (n = 2653) with complete self-reported total physical activity/sedentary behaviour and domain-specific physical activity data, and a subsample (n = 703) with self-reported domain-specific sedentary behaviour and accelerometry data. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour data were collected using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), a domain-specific sedentary behaviour questionnaire and accelerometers. The Kessler Screening Scale (K6) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were used to assess psychological distress. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals, adjusted for socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Results The sample comprised 45.0% men (median age = 45.0 years). The prevalence of psychological distress based on the K6 and GHQ-12 was 8.4% and 21.7%, respectively. In the adjusted model, higher levels of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were associated with significantly higher odds for K6 (OR = 1.47 [1.03–2.10]; p-trend = 0.03) but not GHQ-12 (OR = 0.97 [0.77–1.23]; p-trend = 0.79), when comparing the highest with the lowest tertile. Accelerometry-assessed MVPA was not significantly associated with K6 (p-trend = 0.50) nor GHQ-12 (p-trend = 0.74). The highest tertile of leisure-time physical activity, but not work- or transport-domain activity, was associated with less psychological distress using K6 (OR = 0.65 [0.43–0.97]; p-trend = 0.02) and GHQ-12 (OR = 0.72 [0.55–0.93]; p-trend = 0.01). Self-reported sedentary behaviour was not associated with K6 (p-trend = 0.90) and GHQ-12 (p-trend = 0.33). The highest tertile of accelerometry-assessed sedentary behaviour was associated with significantly higher odds for K6 (OR = 1.93 [1.00–3.75]; p-trend = 0.04), but not GHQ-12 (OR = 1.34 [0.86–2.08]; p-trend = 0.18). Conclusions Higher levels of leisure-time physical activity and lower levels of accelerometer-based sedentary behaviour were associated with lower psychological distress. This study underscores the importance of assessing accelerometer-based and domain-specific activity in relation to mental health, instead of solely focusing on total volume of activity.

Sedentary Work – Evidence on an Emergent Work Health and Safety Issue

Technical Report

Full-text available

Mar 2016

Full text report can be downloaded via: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/literature-review-into-sedentary-work

An Initial Exploration of the Association between Psychological Distress and Sedentary Behaviour in First Year Undergraduates. A Practice Report

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2014

University students are reported to have a higher prevalence of psychological distress than the general population. Consequently, research surrounding factors that may contribute to poor mental health of students is imperative in order to identify interventions for this at-risk population. Previous research has determined that sedentary behaviour is associated with physical health, with an emerging focus on the association between sedentary behaviour and mental health. As the role of student consists of primarily sedentary behaviours such as reading, writing and computer use, the relationship between these activities and student mental wellbeing is particularly relevant. The presentation reported on the findings of study conducted on a sample of first year undergraduates and their reported levels of psychological distress and use of time. The findings highlight the diverse and demanding lifestyles of today’s student and the need for further research into student mental well-being.

Linking sedentary behavior and mental distress in higher education: a cross-sectional study

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2023

Background Sedentary behavior among university students could negatively affect their mental health. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of mental health (anxiety and depression) and sedentary behavior between gender in Health Degrees at the University of Zaragoza. Design Cross-sectional descriptive study. Participants Sample of 257 University students who completed an online questionnaire. Methods Sedentary behavior was assessed with the SBQ questionnaire. Anxiety and depression were assessed with the GADS questionnaire. The Mann–Whitney U test and multiple linear regression models were used. Results In comparison to men, female students with symptoms of anxiety spend more time in total engaged in sedentary behaviors (10.56 ± 4.83) vs. (7.8 ± 3.28; p < 0.001) and mentally-passive sedentary activities [2.24 (1.57) vs. 1.15 (0.90; p < 0.005)]. Female students at risk of depression also spend more hours engaged in mentally-passive sedentary behaviors in comparison to men (8.28 ± 50.70 vs. 1.27 ± 1.02; p = 0.009). Conclusion Female students at risk of anxiety and/or depression spend more time engaged in sedentary activities in comparison to male students. The risk of anxiety and depression is associated with the total number of hours a day spent engaged in sedentary behaviors and with mentally passive behaviors, but not mentally active behaviors.

Pervasive Effect of Psychological Distress on General Public and Caregivers of a Person with Mental Illness: A Review

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2023

Pathak Abhijit

Psychological distress is a global phenomenon arresting people with Common MentalDisorders (CMD). Prolonged distress often leads to severe mental illness too. The current lifestyle has created this menace affecting the general public and caregivers of people with mental illness. The current review paper has discussed the pervasive effect of psychological distress on different kinds of populations and how it affects them. Through legislation, private, and public entities and government policies can effectively create a healthy lifestyle and minimize psychological distress

Improving Attitudes Towards Breaks from Sitting using Affective and Cognitive Messages

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2022

This study tested for (mis)matching effects between affective and cognitive messages promoting breaks from sitting at home (H) and work (W) and attitude basis. Working adults (n=198) were randomised into an affective or cognitive message group and completed a pre-and post-message questionnaire assessing overall, affective, and cognitive attitudes. The main outcome was change in attitudes towards breaks (H/W). Participants with weak-to-strong affective attitudes and moderate-to-strong cognitive attitudes showed greater attitude change (H) after exposure to the matching message, but not participants with weaker attitude bases. No (mis)matching effect was found for attitude change (W). This study suggests that the need to match messages to attitude basis may depend on how strong the attitude basis is and the decision-making context.

Influence of grit and healthy lifestyle behaviors on anxiety and depression in US adults at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional study

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2022

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic altered lifestyles and impacted mental health of many adults. Engaging in physical activity, avoiding prolonged sitting, and consuming a healthy diet improve mental health. The current study investigated the association between health-related lifestyle behaviors on feelings of anxiety and depression in adults during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Adults (n=796) living in the United States completed an internet-based survey in Spring 2020 that included validated survey instruments for moods, physical activity, sitting and dietary behaviors. Multivariate multiple regression models were used to assess the association between health-related lifestyle behaviors and feelings of anxiety and depression. Results: A majority (70.7%; 95% CI: [0.607, 0.807]) of participants met physical activity (PA) guidelines, 43.7% (95% CI: [0.287, 0.587]) sat for ≥ 8 hours per day, and 87.7% (95% CI [0.807, 0.947]) ate a healthy diet. Our final models explained 6.2% and 9.8% of the variance in anxiety and depression, respectively. Vigorous PA (anxiety: B=-0.111, 95% CI: [-0.171,0.000]; depression: B=-0.111, 95% CI: [-0.186,-0.037]) and dietary behaviors (anxiety: B=-0.112, 95% CI: [-0.180,-0.444]; depression: B=-0.112, 95% CI: [-0.213,-0.076]) were associated with reduced feelings of anxiety and depression while sitting time (anxiety: B=0.119, 95% CI: [0.000,0.199]; depression: B=0.119, 95% CI: [0.199,0.199]) were associated with greater feelings of anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Engaging in vigorous physically activity, reducing sitting time, and consuming a healthy diet was associated with reduced feelings of anxiety and depression during the early part of the pandemic. The aforementioned modifiable lifestyle behaviors are independent of each other suggesting improvements in one behavior may improve feelings of anxiety and depression.

Self-Reported Assessment of Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Among Employees

Conference Paper

Full-text available

Dec 2021

The high prevalence of sedentary behavior among workers is an emerging health concern due to the negative impact on human health. This study aimed to evaluate employees' sitting behavior and physical activity during their working time. A total of 130 employees participated in this study, with an average of working hours/week (38.92 ± 20.28). The cross-sectional data were collected from Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ) filled out by participants about their self-reported percentage of sitting, standing, walking, and heavy labor at work. The present data revealed that most workers reported a high rate of prolonged sitting time in the workplace, which is significantly higher among employees in the sedentary profession (73.3.3 ± 9.6). Age and education level are also significant between physically active jobs and those with sedentary jobs. Concerning this, it is essential to develop and promote programs to reduce sedentary time and the importance of interrupting sedentary time and participating in light-intensity activities in the workplace due to the detrimental effect of sitting time on health among employees.

Realtime Emotional Reflective User Interface Based on Deep Convolutional Neural Networks and Generative Adversarial Networks

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022

It is becoming increasingly apparent that a significant amount of the population suffers from mental health problems, such as stress, depression, and anxiety. These issues are a result of a vast range of factors, such as genetic conditions, social circumstances, and lifestyle influences. A key cause, or contributor, for many people, is their work; poor mental state can be exacerbated by jobs and a person’s working environment. Additionally, as the information age continues to burgeon, people are increasingly sedentary in their working lives, spending more of their days seated, and less time moving around. It is a well-known fact that a decrease in physical activity is detrimental to mental well-being. Therefore, the need for innovative research and development to combat negativity early is required. Implementing solutions using Artificial Intelligence has great potential in this field of research. This work proposes a solution to this problem domain, utilising two concepts of Artificial Intelligence, namely, Convolutional Neural Networks and Generative Adversarial Networks. A CNN is trained to accurately predict when an individual is experiencing negative emotions, achieving a top accuracy of 80.38% with a loss of 0.42. A GAN is trained to synthesise images from an input domain that can be attributed to evoking position emotions. A Graphical User Interface is created to display the generated media to users in order to boost mood and reduce feelings of stress. The work demonstrates the capability for using Deep Learning to identify stress and negative mood, and the strategies that can be implemented to reduce them.

The Hubs: Design Insights for Walking Meeting Technology

Chapter

Full-text available

Aug 2021

As an active form of meeting, walking meetings can be beneficial for office workers who often have a sedentary work routine. Despite their substantial benefits in terms of health, social interactions, and creativity, walking meetings are not yet widely adopted. Some key barriers limiting their social acceptance and wider adoption, for instance, the difficulty to present files or take notes, might be addressed by technology. Using the Hubs - a network of stand-up meeting stations - as a design exemplar, we conducted a scenario-based survey (N = 186) to provide insights into how technological solutions can support the practice of walking meetings. Focusing on the size of the group and type of meetings, we identify scenarios of use and discuss design implications for the development of future technologies and service design components to support walking meetings.

Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches : Expliquer, mesurer et promouvoir le bien-être dans le sport et au travail : Rôle de l'environnement social, la motivation et la récupération

Thesis

Full-text available

Nov 2020

Sandrine Isoard-Gautheur

This synthesis note, produced in preparation for the Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches, presents our work on the relationships between the practice of physical activity and/or sport and perceived well-being in different contexts - i.e., sport and work - as well as the role of social context, and the mechanisms by which well-being can be improved. Most of the work presented has focused on the links between social context and motivation to participate, and well-being in sport or at work, as well as on the mechanisms predictive of these relationships. The first chapter deals with the prevention of burnout in intensively practiced sportsmen and women, in particular through a motivational perspective. This chapter is organized around six main questions: (a) What is athlete burnout? (b) how to measure burnout in a sports context? (c) how does athlete burnout develop? (d) what is the prevalence of athlete burnout? (e) what are the environmental and motivational factors predictive of athlete burnout? (f) what are the behavioral consequences of athlete burnout? The second chapter focuses on the promotion of well-being at work through physical activity (PA) and motivation to practice PA. This chapter is organized around six main questions: (a) what is well-being at work? (b) which are the links between PA and well-being at work? (c) which are the mechanisms involved in the relationship between PA and well-being at work? (d) which environmental factors need to be considered when studying the relationship between PA and well-being at work? (e) what is the effectiveness of existing interventions to promote well-being at work through PA? (f) which intervention(s) should be proposed? Finally, the third chapter deals with our research perspectives in three areas: (a) the promotion of well-being in sport, (b) the promotion of well-being at work through PA, and (c) the direct measurement of burnout in the sport and work context.

Validación del autoinforme de motivos para la práctica del ejercicio físico con adolescentes (AMPEF): diferencias por género, edad y ciclo escolar (Validation of the self-report of reasons for the practice of physical exercise with teenagers (AMPEF): dif

Article

Oct 2017

El objetivo del estudio es la validación del Autoinforme de Motivos para la Práctica del Ejercicio Físico (AMPEF) de Capdevila, Niñerola y Pintanel (2004), y comprobar los efectos que producen el género, edad y ciclo escolar sobre dichos motivos en una muestra de 852 adolescentes gallegos (M = 14.9; DT = 1.75). Se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio obteniendo una adaptación de la escala original de 48 ítems agrupados en ocho factores con excelentes coeficientes de fiabilidad (α = .96), una varianza total explicada del 65.24% y un ajuste adecuado a los datos (χ2/df = 2.635, GFI = .909, CFI = .901, RMSEA = .047). Asimismo, los adolescentes que presentan una mejor motivación del factor urgencias de salud (único significativo en las tres variables) son de género masculino, de temprana edad (12-13 años) y primer ciclo de la ESO. También, se aprecia una mejor motivación de los hombres en los factores competición, diversión y fuerza. Por último, se discuten los resultados, destacando el autoinforme para la práctica del ejercicio físico (AMPEF) como un instrumento válido y fiable para valorar el tipo de motivación desarrollado por los adolescentes hacia el ejercicio físico. Abstract. The objective of the study is to validate the Self-Report of Motives for the Practice of Physical Exercise (AMPEF) by Capdevila, Niñerola and Pintanel (2004), and to verify the effects of gender, age and school cycle on these motifs in a sample of 852 Galician teenagers (M = 14.9; DT = 1.75). An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed, obtaining an adaptation of the original scale of 48 items grouped into eight factors with excellent reliability coefficients (α = .96), a total explained variance of 65.24% and an adequate adjustment to the data (χ2/df = 2.635, GFI = .909, CFI = .901, RMSEA = .047), adolescents who present a better motivation of the health emergency factor (it is the only significant in the three variables) are male, early age (12-13 years) and first cycle of Compulsory Secondary Education. Also, a better motivation of men than woman in the factors of competition, fun and strength can be appreciated. Finally, the results are discussed, emphasizing the self-report for the practice of physical exercise (AMPEF) as a valid and reliable instrument to assess the type of motivation developed by adolescents towards physical exercise.

A combined health action process approach and mHealth intervention to reduce workplace sitting time in office-working adults: a secondary analysis examining health-related quality of life and work performance outcomes

Article

Sep 2021

Objective: This secondary analysis study examined the effects of a 6-week theory-based planning and mHealth text message intervention targeting workplace sitting time on health-related quality of life and work performance in office workers. Design: Office-working adults (Mage=45.18 ± 11.33 years) were randomised into either a planning + text message intervention (n = 29) or control (n = 31) condition. Outcome measures: Workplace sitting time, time spent in specific non-sedentary behaviours (e.g. standing), health-related outcomes (i.e. emotional well-being, energy/fatigue, perceived role limitations), and work performance were assessed at baseline and week 6. Results: Significant group by time interaction effects, that favoured the intervention group, were found for perceived role limitations due to emotional health problems and emotional well-being. No significant interaction effects emerged for energy/fatigue, role limitations due to physical health problems or work performance. Significant correlations in the expected direction were found between sedentary/non-sedentary behaviours and health-related outcomes. No significant mediation effects were found to suggest the intervention affected health-related outcomes through reductions in sedentary behaviour. Conclusion: Reducing workplace sitting improves emotional well-being and contributes to fewer perceived role limitations due to emotional health problems among office workers.

Pilot Testing of a Nudge-Based Digital Intervention (Welbot) to Improve Sedentary Behaviour and Wellbeing in the Workplace

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2020
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

Welbot is a nudge-based digital intervention that aims to reduce sedentary behaviour and improve physical and mental wellbeing at work. The purpose of this study was to pilot test the Welbot intervention. Forty-one (6M/35F) University staff (M age = 43-years) participated in this study, which was a single arm repeated measures trial conducted over three weeks of intervention. The primary outcome was sedentary behaviour (measured subjectively and objectively) and secondary outcomes included: mental wellbeing, procrastination, depression, anxiety and stress, and work engagement. A subset of participants (n = 6) wore an ActivPAL to objectively measure activity data, while another subset of participants (n = 6) completed a qualitative semi-structured interview to ascertain experiences of using Welbot. Following the intervention, a Friedman non-parametric test revealed that participants self-reported significantly less time sitting and more time standing and objectively recorded more steps at the week-1 follow-up. A series of paired t-tests exhibited that changes in all secondary outcomes were in the expected direction. However, only improvements in depression, anxiety, and stress were significant. After using Welbot, thematic analysis demonstrated that participants perceived they had a positive behaviour change, increased awareness of unhealthy behaviours at work, and provided suggestions for intervention improvement. Overall, findings provided indications of the potential positive impact Welbot may have on employees’ wellbeing, however, limitations are noted. Recommendations for intervention improvement including personalisation (e.g., individual preferences for nudges and the option to sync Welbot with online calendars) and further research into how users engage with Welbot are provided.

Pattern of attention, stress, anxiety, and musculoskeletal discomfort levels when using a sit-stand desk in a college class

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2020

Problem Statement: Increased amount of daily sitting time has been linked to increased risk of disease, independent of the amount of daily physical activity. A number of devices have been developed to address prolonged sitting in work and educational settings (e.g., sit-stand desks, treadmill-desks, cycle-desks, stepping desks). However, very little research has investigated the effect of a sit-stand desk on cognitive mood and performance in the college classroom. Purpose: To determine the effect of using adjustable-height (sit-stand) desks in a college class on attention (AT), stress (ST), musculoskeletal discomfort (MD), anxiety (AN), and academic performance (EXAM). Approach: A total of 18 subjects completed the 13 week intervention (week 3-15 of the semester). The standing group participants (S) used a sit-stand desk, placed in the back and one side of the classroom, to use as they desired; the control group (C) used standard desks. Participants completed a weekly visual analogue scale (VAS) for AT, ST, MD, and AN, and were given space to provide optional comments on why they answered the way they did. Class sessions were video recorded to allow for direct observation of attention (OAT). Results: The main findings indicated a significant interaction effect for AT (F[12, 166] = 2.79, p = 0.002) and ST (F[12, 166] = 2.15, p = 0.017), and significantly (p=0.002) lower overall MD for the intervention (12.81±3.45) vs. control (35.12±4.80). EXAM and OAT were not different between groups. Conclusion: A strength of this study is the week to week data collection on overall discomfort level and various measures of cognitive mood and performance. Use of a sit-stand desk was associated with lower MD scores and high variability in AT and ST scores from week to week.

The occupational sitting and physical activity questionnaire (OSPAQ): A validation study with accelerometer-assessed measures

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2020
BMC PUBLIC HEALTH

Background: The Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ) was developed as an easy-to-use instrument for self-reported assessment of percentage sitting, standing, walking, and performing heavy labour in a workplace setting. This study aimed to evaluate the concurrent validity of all dimensions of the OSPAQ compared to accelerometer-assessed measures of occupational physical activities in a mixed sample of sedentary and physically active professions. Methods: Data from the Flemish Employees' Physical Activity (FEPA) study were used, including employees from the service and production sector. All participants filled in a questionnaire, underwent clinical measurements, and wore two Axivity AX3 accelerometers for at least 2 consecutive working days. Intraclass (ICC) and Spearman rho correlations (r) were analyzed to assess concurrent validity. Results: The sample included 401 workers (16% sedentary profession) with a mean age of 39.2 (± 11) years. Concurrent validity was good and moderate for assessing percentage of sitting (ICC = 0.84; r = 0.53), and standing (ICC = 0.64; r = 0.53), respectively. The concurrent validity for walking was weak to moderate (ICC = 0.50; r = 0.49), and weak for performing heavy labour (ICC = 0.28; r = 0.35). Stronger validity scores were found in sedentary professions for occupational sitting and standing. In physically active professions, an underestimation of self-reported sitting and standing was found, and an overestimation of self-reported walking and heavy labour. No significant self-reported over- or underestimation was found for sitting and heavy labour in sedentary professions, but an underestimation of self-reported standing and an overestimation of self-reported walking was observed. Conclusions: The OSPAQ has acceptable measurement properties for assessing occupational sitting and standing. Accelerometer-assessed measures of occupational walking and heavy labour are recommended, since a poor concurrent validity was found for both.

Understanding Walking Meetings: Drivers and Barriers

Conference Paper

Full-text available

Apr 2020

Under pressure: Psychological perspectives on letterpress, craft and well-being

Article

Mar 2020

Arts and crafts are widely considered to be psychologically beneficial. Letterpress, as a traditional method of printing, was made redundant by computers in the later twentieth century but has enjoyed a 'rebirth' in recent years. There are a growing number of independent presses, and universities who are recognizing its potential as a pedagogical tool. As a printing method, it is no longer a necessity, so what is its role going forward? The techniques are not lost, but their value has changed. As a craft, letterpress has several distinctive qualities, particularly when compared to digital alternatives. When working with letterpress, students are no longer alone at their desks. Rather, the letterpress workshop is a social, communal space. In this article we reflect on the resurgence of letterpress as a celebration of culture and heritage: a coming together of like-minded individuals in a community of action. What is the value of enabling students to immerse themselves in letterpress, and what are the effects of this immersion on the practitioner and their well-being? There is a shift in focus of letterpress from output ‐ mass-produced printed media ‐ to process. We analyse the unique qualities of this process ‐ its physicality, the restrictions it imposes and the latitude it allows ‐ and explore links to mental and physical health and well-being. This position paper explores the practical, conceptual and emotional dimensions of letterpress as a craft. It draws upon personal reflection, observation and anecdotal accounts collected over years of teaching (V. S.), while offering psychological perspectives on the links between letterpress, craft and well-being (S. R. H.).

The Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ): a validation study with objective accelerometer registrations

Preprint

Full-text available

Feb 2020

Background: The Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ) was developed as an easy-to-use instrument for self-reported assessment of percentage sitting, standing, walking and performing heavy labour in a workplace setting. This study aimed to evaluate the criterion validity of all dimensions of the OSPAQ compared to objective accelerometer measures of occupational physical activities in a mixed sample of sedentary and physically active professions. Methods: Data from the Flemish Employees’ Physical Activity (FEPA) study were used, including employees from the service and production sector. All participants filled in a questionnaire, underwent clinical measurements, and wore two accelerometers for at least 2 consecutive working days. Intra-class (ICC) and Spearman rho correlations (r) were analyzed to assess criterion validity. Results: The sample included 401 workers (16% sedentary profession) with a mean age of 39.2 (± 11) years. Criterion validity was good and moderate for assessing percentage of sitting (ICC=0.84; r=0.53), and standing (ICC=0.64; r=0.53), respectively. The criterion validity for walking was weak to moderate (ICC=0.50; r=0.49), and weak for performing heavy labour (ICC=0.28; r=0.35). Stronger validity scores were found in sedentary professions for occupational sitting and standing. In physically active professions, an underestimation of self-reported sitting and standing was found, and an overestimation of self-reported walking and heavy labour. No significant self-reported over- or underestimation was found for sitting and heavy labour in sedentary professions, but an underestimation of self-reported standing (p<0.001) and an overestimation of self-reported walking (p<0.001) was observed. Conclusions: The OSPAQ has acceptable measurement properties for assessing occupational sitting and standing. Objective measurements of occupational walking and heavy labour are recommended, since a poor criterion validity was found for both.

Effects of Sedentary Behaviors on Stress and Suicidal Ideation: Occupation-Based Differences

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2019
Open Nurs J

Background The study of examining the effects of sedentary behavior on stress level and suicidal ideation is crucial, but existing research on the topic is insufficient. Objective This study aimed to identify the effect of sedentary behaviors, with respect to the occupation type on stress and suicidal ideation among Korean adults. Methods This descriptive correlational study used raw data from the 6 th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI), conducted in 2015. The survey sampled 7,380 adults, of whom 3,714 were included in this analysis. Sedentary time, stress level, and suicidal ideation were measured. The data were analyzed using a homogeneity test, and logistic regression. Results As sedentary time increased, stress (OR=1.036; p =0.001) and suicidal ideation (OR= 1.065; p =0.006) also increased significantly, irrespective of the gender, age, household income, education level, job, and marital status. Regarding occupation, stress level increased significantly with an increase in sedentary time for managers; professionals and related workers; clerks; and craft, equipment, machine-operating, and assembly-line workers, while skilled agriculture, forestry, and fishery workers experienced less stress. A significant increase in suicidal ideation was observed in craft, equipment, machine-operating, and assembly-line workers as their time spent on sitting increased. Conclusion This study found a significant association between average sedentary time, and stress and suicidal ideation. There is a need for interventional programs that can reduce sedentary behaviors for preventing mental health problems.

An Integrative, Systematic Review Exploring the Research, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance of Interventions to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour in Office Workers

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2018
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

Sedentary behaviour is associated with poor health outcomes, and office-based workers are at significant health risk, as they accumulate large proportions of their overall sitting time at work. The aim of this integrated systematic review was to collate and synthesize published research on sedentary behaviour interventions in the workplace that have reported on at least one an aspect of the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Studies were included if they involved adult office workers, were conducted in an office setting, and changes in sedentary behaviour had been measured as a primary outcome. Five electronic databases were searched yielding 7234 articles, with 75 articles (61 individual interventions) meeting the inclusion criteria. Reach indicators were the most frequently reported RE-AIM dimensions, which were reported on average 59% of the time. Efficacy/effectiveness was the second most reported dimension at 49% reporting across all of the indicators. Implementation indicators were reported an average of 44% of the time, with indicators of adoption and maintenance reported as the lowest of all indicators at 13% and 8%, respectively. Recommendations are provided to improve reporting across all RE-AIM dimensions, which is an important first step to enable the effective translation of interventions into real world settings.

Perceptions of an online 'train-the-champion' approach to increase workplace movement

Article

Nov 2018
HEALTH PROMOT INT

Prolonged sitting is now recognized as an emergent work health and safety issue. To address the need for a scalable sitting-reduction intervention for workplaces, the BeUpstanding™ Champion Toolkit was developed. This free, online toolkit uses a 'train-the-champion' approach, providing a step-by-step guide and resources to workplace champions to assist them in raising awareness and building a supportive culture to reduce sitting time in their team. This qualitative study explored champion and staff perceptions of the beta (test) version of the toolkit. Seven work teams, from a range of workplace sectors (blue-/white-collar), sizes (small/medium/large) and locations (urban/regional) participated; all team members were exposed to the program (n = 603). Approximately 4 months after program initiation, semi-structured interviews were conducted with all champions (n = 7); focus groups were conducted with a random sample of staff (n = 40). Champions were followed-up again at 12 months (n = 5). Transcripts were coded by two researchers, with codes organized into overarching themes. All champions found the 'train-the-champion' approach, and the toolkit acceptable. Common enablers for intervention delivery included: champion passion for staff health and wellbeing; perceived fit of the program within existing practice; and, management support. Champions and staff reported improvements in knowledge/awareness about sitting, cultural norms, perceived stress, productivity and resilience. Facilitators for sustained change over time included a stable organizational climate and ongoing management support; barriers included workload intensification. The beta version of the BeUpstanding™ Champion Toolkit was highly acceptable to workplace champions and staff, and was perceived to have benefits for team culture and staff knowledge and wellbeing.

A study on computer based work by human based on evolutionary biology (Preprint)

Preprint

Oct 2018

UNSTRUCTURED Humans have evolved to walk upright since a million years ago. However, as an industrial society entered, seating and working hours became abnormally high only a few decades ago. This has caused the human body to be badly affected. According to the preceding medical studies, the environment of sitting and working for a long time negatively affected adult diseases. In modern society, people are doing long-again tasks such as sitting in one place or standing up. This has many side effects on the human body. This is because humans have evolved in a moving direction. Reflecting this background, the study adds evolutionary biological perspective to think about working in a walking environment as well as standing desk working environment. It also expected expansion of the mobile office environment where smartphones, a type of smart work, are used directly in the field. To do so, it is going to carry out an experiment that does work with Smartphones. The study could help build and establish a mobile office environment, a type of smart work. In addition, a working environment for walking around as well as using smartphones could be developed. Furthermore, the work environment and the study environment of students could change.

Effect of university students’ sedentary behavior on stress, anxiety, and depression

Article

Full-text available

May 2018

1 Purpose We identified the effect of sedentary behavior on stress, anxiety, and depression among Korean university students. 2 Design and Methods Data were collected from 244 students using self‐reported sitting time, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies‐Depression Scale. 3 Findings Mean sitting time was 7.96 h per day. As sitting hours increased, university students’ stress, anxiety, and depression significantly increased despite controlling for sex, economic level, body mass index, underlying disease, and health self‐management. 4 Practical Implications Intervention programs that reduce sedentary behavior and improve physical activity and mental health for university students are necessary.

Validation of the self-report of reasons for the practice of physical exercise with teenagers (AMPEF): Differences by gender, age and school year

Article

Jan 2018

The objective of the study is to validate the Self-Report of Motives for the Practice of Physical Exercise (AMPEF) by Capdevila, Niñerola and Pintanel (2004), and to verify the effects of gender, age and school cycle on these motifs in a sample of 852 Galician teenagers (M = 14.9; DT = 1.75). An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed, obtaining an adaptation of the original scale of 48 items grouped into eight factors with excellent reliability coefficients (α = .96), a total explained variance of 65.24% and an adequate adjustment to the data (x2/df = 2.635, GFI = .909, CFI = .901, RMSEA = .047), adolescents who present a better motivation of the health emergency factor (it is the only significant in the three variables) are male, early age (12-13 years) and first cycle of Compulsory Secondary Education. Also, a better motivation of men than woman in the factors of competition, fun and strength can be appreciated. Finally, the results are discussed, emphasizing the self-report for the practice of physical exercise (AMPEF) as a valid and reliable instrument to assess the type of motivation developed by adolescents towards physical exercise. © Copyright: Federación Española de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educación Física (FEADEF).

The Associations of Multimorbidity With Health-Related Productivity Loss in a Large and Diverse Public Sector Setting: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Article

Dec 2017

Objective: To evaluate absenteeism, presenteeism, and total lost productive time (LPT) associated with multimorbidity. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 3228 state-government employees from Tasmania were collected in 2013. The validated measures of absenteeism, presenteeism, and LPT were obtained from employees' self-reported data over a 28-day period. Analyses were stratified by sex. Negative binomial models were used to estimate the associations between multimorbidity and LPT. Results: The average health-related total LPT was 1.2 (standard deviation [SD] = 2.4) and 1.7 (SD = 3.5) days for men and women with multimorbidity, respectively. Women (rate ratio [RR] = 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8 to 4.9) and men (RR = 4.4, 95%CI 3.0 to 6.2) with 4+ chronic conditions were significantly more likely to report LPT compared with those without any chronic conditions. Conclusion: We found multimorbidity is of concern within the workforce, with a positive association of multimorbidity and LPT observed, and significant differences in LPT between men and women reporting multimorbidity.

The protective properties of Act-Belong-Commit indicators against incident depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment among older Irish adults: Findings from a prospective community-based study

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2017

The Act-Belong-Commit campaign is the world's first comprehensive, population-wide, community-based program designed to promote mental health. The campaign targets individuals to engage in mentally healthy activities, while at the same time, encouraging community organizations that offer such activities, to increase participation in their activities. Using nationally-representative data from Ireland, the aim of this study was to prospectively assess the association between indicators of the Act-Belong-Commit behavioral domains and incident depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment.

Barriers and facilitators to participation in workplace health promotion (WHP) activities: Results from a cross-sectional survey of public-sector employees in Tasmania, Australia

Article

Jan 2017

Issue addressed Workplaces are promising settings for health promotion, yet employee participation in workplace health promotion (WHP) activities is often low or variable. This study explored facilitating factors and barriers associated with participation in WHP activities that formed part of a comprehensive WHP initiative run within the Tasmanian State Service (TSS) between 2009 and 2013. Methods TSS employee ( n = 3228) completed surveys in 2013. Data included sociodemographic characteristics, employee‐perceived availability of WHP activities, employee‐reported participation in WHP activities, and facilitators and barriers to participation. Ordinal log‐link regression was used in cross‐sectional analyses. Results Significant associations were found for all facilitating factors and participation. Respondents who felt their organisation placed a high priority on WHP, who believed that management supported participation or that the activities could improve their health were more likely to participate. Time‐ and health‐related barriers were associated with participation in fewer activities. All associations were independent of age, sex, work schedule and employee‐perceived availability of programs. Part‐time and shift‐work patterns, and location of activities were additionally identified barriers. Conclusion Facilitating factors relating to implementation, peer and environmental support, were associated with participation in more types of activities, time‐ and health‐related barriers were associated with less participation. So what? Large and diverse organisations should ensure WHP efforts have manager support and adopt flexible approaches to maximise employee engagement.

The associations between domain-specific sedentary behaviours and dietary habits in European adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the SPOTLIGHT survey

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2016
BMC PUBLIC HEALTH

Background Sedentary behaviour has been associated with obesity and related chronic diseases. Disentangling the nature of this association is complicated due to interactions with other lifestyle factors, such as dietary habits, yet limited research has investigated the relation between domain-specific sedentary behaviours and dietary habits in adults. The aim of this paper was to examine the association between domain-specific sedentary behaviours and dietary habits in adults and to test the moderating effect of age and gender on this association. Methods A total of 6,037 participants from five urban regions in Europe completed an online survey, of which 6,001 were included in the analyses. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were used to examine main associations and interaction effects. Results All domain-specific sedentary behaviours, except transport-related sitting time, were significantly related to dietary habits. In general, having a higher sitting time was related to having less healthy dietary habits, especially for television viewing. Gender did not moderate any of the relations, and age was only a significant moderator in the relation between other leisure sitting time and alcohol consumption. Conclusion Domain-specific sitting behaviours were related to unhealthy dietary behaviours. However, the small effect sizes suggest that individual level behavioural interventions focusing on sedentary behaviour will not be sufficient to improve dietary habits. The fact that almost none of the associations were moderated by age or gender suggests that these associations, and possibly also the effects of interventions targeting both behaviours, may hold across age and gender groups.

Estresse e Qualidade de Vida: O Uso da Auriculoterapia em Pacientes com Cefaleia

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2016

A medicina tradicional chinesa (MTC) visa o equilíbrio da pessoas, não focando o tratamento na doença (DORIA; LIPP; SILVA, 2012). Esta baseia-se seu entendimento de saúde por meio do desequilíbrio de sistemas psíquicos, internos e físicos, manifestados como depressão, quadro de excesso, excitação, entre outros, que apontam para o sofrimento físico ou mental da população de forma geral (OLIVEIRA; OLIVEIRA, 2011). Dentre estes sofrimentos, a cefaléia apresenta uma grande prevalência na população, sendo conhecida popularmente como a " dor de cabeça " , que com o passar do tempo, se torna crítica, a ponto de gerar ao indivíduo incapacidades nas rotinas diárias (VARJÃO et al, 2008). A cefaléia é a terceira queixa de dor mais freqüente no Brasil (ARAÚJO; ALMEIDA, 2009), estando presente com maior freqüência, em pessoas do sexo feminino (STALLBAUM et al, 2013). Segundo Bougea et al, (2013) e Hamedi et al, (2013), a cefaléia esta associado ao estresse severo, frustração, raiva e outros fatores emocionais (BOUGEA et al, 2013; HAMEDI et al, 2013). Mulheres entre seus 18 a 45 anos de idade, estão mais suscetíveis a níveis de estresse elevado por motivos que a própria sociedade requer, como: mãe, esposa, cuidadora de pais idosos, responsabilidades no trabalho, e outras atividades, na qual a mesma se apresenta de forma prestativa (ROSSETTI et al, 2008). A percepção do componente emocional nas cefaléias tem fundamentado estudos que indicam que o tratamento com práticas integrativas podem reduzir e até curar a cefaléia, principalmente pelo efeito na redução da tensão muscular (BOUGEA et al, 2013). O estresse, além de ser um desencadeante de muitas doenças, é capaz de interferir de forma prejudicial ao indivíduo, levando a redução da qualidade de vida e consequentemente a uma baixa produtividade de maneira geral (SADIR; BIGNOTTO; LIPP, 2010). A saúde requer equilíbrio homeostático dos sistemas do corpo, estes mediado por meios intrínsecos e extrínsecos, hoje o estilo de vida agitado e cheio de obrigações tem levado muitos a uma redução da saúde e bem

Uprising: An examination of sit-stand workstations, mental health and work ability in sedentary office workers, in Western Australia

Article

Sep 2016

Background: Office-based staff spend around three quarters of their work day sitting. People who sit for long periods while at work are at greater risk of adverse health outcomes. Objective: The pilot study aimed to determine the effect of sit-stand workstations on office-based staff sedentary and physical activity behaviors, work ability and self-reported physical and mental health outcomes. Methods: A two-group pre-post study design assessed changes in sedentary and physical activity behaviors (time spent sitting, standing and stepping and sit-stand transitions and number of steps taken) work ability and physical and mental health. Physical activity behaviors were measured using activPAL activity monitors and self-reported data on work ability and physical and mental health were collected using an online questionnaire. Results: Relative to the controls (n=19), the intervention group (n=18) significantly decreased time spent sitting by 100 minutes (p<0.001) and increased standing time by 99 minutes (p<0.001). There was a decrease in self-reported current work ability when compared to lifetime best (p=0.008). There were no significant differences for all other sedentary behavior, other workability outcomes, physical health or mental health outcomes at follow-up. Conclusions: The Uprising Study found that sit-stand workstations are an effective strategy to reduce occupational sitting time in office-based workers over a one month period.

Stand by Me: Qualitative Insights into the Ease of Use of Adjustable Workstations

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2016

Background Office workers sit for more than 80% of the work day making them an important target for work site health promotion interventions to break up prolonged sitting time. Adjustable workstations are one strategy used to reduce prolonged sitting time. This study provides both an employees' and employers' perspective into the advantages, disadvantages, practicality and convenience of adjustable workstations and how movement in the office can be further supported by organisations. Methods This qualitative study was part of the Uprising pilot study. Employees were from the intervention arm of a two group (intervention n = 18 and control n = 18) study. Employers were the immediate line-manager of the employee. Data were collected via employee focus groups (n = 17) and employer individual interviews (n = 12). The majority of participants were female (n = 18), had healthy weight, and had a post-graduate qualification. All focus group discussions and interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and the data coded according to the content. Qualitative content analysis was conducted. Results Employee data identified four concepts: enhanced general wellbeing; workability and practicality; disadvantages of the retro-fit; and triggers to stand. Most employees (n = 12) reported enhanced general well-being, workability and practicality included less email exchange and positive interaction (n = 5), while the instability of the keyboard a commonly cited disadvantage. Triggers to stand included time and task based prompts. Employer data concepts included: general health and wellbeing; work engagement; flexibility; employee morale; and injury prevention. Over half of the employers (n = 7) emphasised back care and occupational health considerations as important, as well as increased level of staff engagement and strategies to break up prolonged periods of sitting. Discussion The focus groups highlight the perceived general health benefits from this short intervention, including opportunity to sit less and interact in the workplace, creating an ‘energised’ work environment. The retro-fit workstation and keyboard platform provided challenges for some participants. Supervisors emphasised injury prevention and employee morale as two important by products of the adjustable workstation. These were not mentioned by employees. They called for champions to advocate for strategies to break up prolonged sitting. Implications The findings of this novel research from both the employee and employer perspective may support installation of adjustable workstations as one component of a comprehensive approach to improve the long term health of employees.

Investigating Employee-Reported Benefits of Participation in a Comprehensive Australian Workplace Health Promotion Program

Article

May 2016
J OCCUP ENVIRON MED

Objective: To investigate employee-reported benefits of participation, employee organizational commitment, and health-related behaviors and body mass index (BMI) following implementation of a comprehensive workplace health promotion (WHP) program. Methods: State government employees from Tasmania, Australia, completed surveys in 2010 (n = 3408) and 2013 (n = 3228). Repeated cross-sectional data were collected on sociodemographic, health, and work characteristics. Participation in WHP activities, employee-reported organizational commitment, and benefits of participation were collected in 2013. Results: Respondents who participated in multiple activities were more likely to agree that participation had motivated them, or helped them to address a range of health and work factors (trends: P < 0.05). There were significant associations between participation and employee organizational commitment. No differences were observed in health-related behaviors and BMI between 2010 and 2013. Conclusions: Healthy@Work (pH@W) was either ineffective, or insufficient time had elapsed to detect a population-level change in employee lifestyle factors.

Prolonged Sitting is Associated with Attenuated Heart Rate Variability during Sleep in Blue-Collar Workers

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2015
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

Prolonged sitting is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and mortality. However, research into the physiological determinants underlying this relationship is still in its infancy. The aim of the study was to determine the extent to which occupational and leisure-time sitting are associated with nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) in blue-collar workers. The study included 138 blue-collar workers (mean age 45.5 (SD 9.4) years). Sitting-time was measured objectively for four days using tri-axial accelerometers (Actigraph GT3X+) worn on the thigh and trunk. During the same period, a heart rate monitor (Actiheart) was used to sample R-R intervals from the electrocardiogram. Time and frequency domain indices of HRV were only derived during nighttime sleep, and used as markers of cardiac autonomic modulation. Regression analyses with multiple adjustments (age, gender, body mass index, smoking, job-seniority, physical work-load, influence at work, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity) were used to investigate the association between sitting time and nocturnal HRV. We found that occupational sitting-time was negatively associated (p < 0.05) with time and frequency domain HRV indices. Sitting-time explained up to 6% of the variance in HRV, independent of the covariates. Leisure-time sitting was not significantly associated with any HRV indices (p > 0.05). In conclusion, objectively measured occupational sitting-time was associated with reduced nocturnal HRV in blue-collar workers. This indicates an attenuated cardiac autonomic regulation with increasing sitting-time at work regardless of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The implications of this association for cardiovascular disease risk warrant further investigation via long-term prospective studies and intervention studies.

Factors Associated With Availability of, and Employee Participation in, Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion in a Large and Diverse Australian Public Sector Setting: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Article

Nov 2015
J OCCUP ENVIRON MED

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with the perceived availability of, and reported participation in workplace health promotion activities implemented in the Tasmanian State Service, Australia. Methods: Data from 3228 employees were collected in 2013 on sociodemographic and work characteristics, health-related behaviors, and employee-reported availability of and participation in health-related activities. Ratios of prevalence for reported availability and participation by each factor were estimated using negative binomial regression (availability) and Poisson regression (participation). Results: Significant differences in availability of different activity types were found for numerous factors. Compared with the reference categories, only administrative staff or respondents reporting any leisure-time physical activity were more likely to participate, and smokers and respondents with variable work schedules or cardiometabolic conditions were less likely. Conclusions: Employees with suboptimal health-related factors were less likely to engage with activities offered through this comprehensive workplace health promotion initiative.

Context-Aware Sit-Stand Desk for Promoting Healthy and Productive Behaviors

Conference Paper

Oct 2023

Association of work-related sedentary behavior with mental health and work engagement among Japanese white-collar and blue-collar workers

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2023
J OCCUP ENVIRON MED

Objective: This study investigated the association of work-related sedentary behavior with mental health and work engagement among white- and blue-collar workers. Methods: An Internet survey was conducted among 1,600 workers aged 20-59 years. A total of 1,213 valid responses were analyzed to examine the association of work-related sedentary behavior with mental health and work engagement. Results: Higher level of occupational sedentary behavior significantly associated with poorer mental health and lower work engagement among white-collar workers. Considering the effect of occupation, association of sedentary behavior with mental health disappeared, whereas association with work engagement remained for white-collar workers. Conclusion: Our result suggested the importance of decreasing work-related sedentary behavior for enhancing work engagement regardless of the occupation for white-collar workers. Further study is needed to confirm the association between these variables for blue-collar workers.

Thriving or surviving: staff health metrics and lifestyle behaviours within an Irish higher education setting

Article

Feb 2022

Purpose Due to the international paucity of empirical evidence, this study aimed to investigate the health metrics and lifestyle behaviours of a staff cohort in a higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 279 (16.4% response rate) HEI staff (academic, management, clerical/support), via a web-based health questionnaire that incorporated validated measures such as the Mental Health Index-5, Energy and Vitality Index, Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (short form) and the AUDIT-C drinking subscale. A cluster analytical procedure was used to examine the presence of distinct clusters of individuals exhibiting either optimal or sub-optimal health behaviours. Findings A multitude of concerning patterns were identified including poor anthropometric profiles (64.4% of males overweight/obese), excessive occupational sitting time (67.8% of females sitting for = 4 h per day), hazardous drinking among younger staff (38.2% of 18–34 year olds), sub-optimal sleep duration on weeknights (82.2% less than 8 h), less favourable mean psychometric indices than the general Irish population, and insufficient fruit and vegetable intake (62.1% reporting <5 daily servings). Cluster analysis revealed “Healthy lifestyle” individuals exhibited significantly lower BMI values, lower stress levels and reported fewer days absent from work compared to those with a “Sub-optimal lifestyle”. Originality/value In contrast to the abundance of research pertaining to student cohorts, the current study is the first to examine the clustering of health-related variables in a cohort of HEI staff in Ireland. Findings will be used to inform policy at the host institution and will be of broader interest to higher education stakeholders elsewhere. Future longitudinal studies are required to monitor the health challenges experienced by this influential, yet under-researched cohort.

Physical characteristics in mental illness population - literature review

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2016
Isr J Earth Sci

Ron Feldman

Background: Mental disorders are common, worldwide health problems. Starting July 1st 2015, mental health treatments in Israel have been incorporated into the “National Health Low” (passed by the Knesset in 1994), bring into an end the 21-year-old questionable division of responsibilities for treatment of body and mind (HMOs responsible for treatments of the body; Ministry of Health responsible for treatments of psychiatric and psychological conditions). Therefore, community caregivers need to take into accountthe needs and characteristics related to the patients' diagnoses and mental state when formulating treatment and rehabilitation programs to address these patients' health issues. Aim: The aim of this review is to examine the existing knowledge in the literature regarding the physical characteristics and level of physical activity of people with depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia, and to provide physical therapists with basic guidelines for managing the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Methods: A total of 106 articles were reviewed after a systematic and comprehensive search in the following databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO and Cochran. The first phase was carried out by searching the keyword Mental Health that was cross-linked respectively with the keywords: physical activity, pain, and body posture. In the second phase, the search was more specific using the following keywords: body posture, balance, pain, gait, fine motor, muscle strength, range of motion. Keywords in each of the above were cross-linked with the specific mental illnesses: schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders. The articles reviewed included interventional clinical trials, crpss-sectional surveys, cohort studies, literature reviews, and meta-analyses dealing with populations with mental illness. Results: The review shows that patients with mental illness manifest unique physical profiles in accordance with their clinical diagnosis (schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety). The physical profile of patients with schizophrenia is characterized by a slow gait, decrease in stride length, poor pain perception, and slowdown in fine motor skills. Patients with anxiety disorders are characterized by balance disturbances, while depressed patients are characterized by a slow gait, slumped posture, a higher incidence of pain and a decreased pain threshold and pain tolerance. Moreover, most of these patients do not engage in physical activity. There is a consensus that physical activity contributes to an overall better mental state and that the optimal physical intensity to achieve good mental health is moderate. Physical activity is a key component in improving self-esteem and an effective tool for coping with serious mental states. Discussion: While formulating a diagnosis or treatment program for patients with mental illness, one should take into consideration some specific factors, such as pain perception, balance and gait patterns, in addition to the general physical activity program. More research is needed to improve our understanding of these patients in order to provide adequate recommendations and guidelines.

Factors associated with high sedentary behaviour among adolescents and adults with psychological distress in South Africa

Article

Jul 2020
S AFR J PSYCHOL

The aim of this study was to estimate factors associated with high sedentary behaviour (SB) in adolescents and adults who have psychological distress in South Africa. Data used in this analysis were derived from the cross-sectional South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey – 2012. The sample consisted of 2306 participants (42 years median age) who had psychological distress. In all, 16.2% of the study participants engaged in ⩾8 hr SB/day. In unadjusted analysis, functional disability, older age, bodily pain, hypertension, and cognitive impairment was significantly more frequent among those with high SB. In adjusted logistic regression, functional disability and aged 65 years and above were positively associated with high SB. Results seem to suggest that interventions aimed at reducing SB among South Africans who have psychological distress may target the risk groups that were identified.

Temporal dynamics of sitting behavior at work

Article

Jun 2020

Sitting for prolonged periods of time impairs people’s health. Prior research has mainly investigated sitting behavior on an aggregate level, for example, by analyzing total sitting time per day. By contrast, taking a dynamic approach, here we conceptualize sitting behavior as a continuous chain of sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit transitions. We use multilevel time-to-event analysis to analyze the timing of these transitions. We analyze ∼30,000 objectively measured posture transitions from 156 people during work time. Results indicate that the temporal dynamics of sit-to-stand transitions differ from stand-to-sit transitions, and that people are quicker to switch postures later in the workday, and quicker to stand up after having been more active in the recent hours. We found no evidence for associations with physical fitness. Altogether, these findings provide insights into the origins of people’s stand-up and sit-down decisions, show that sitting behavior is fundamentally different from exercise behavior, and provide pointers for the development of interventions.

Gender Differences in the Association Between Alcohol Use and Sedentary Behavior Among Adults

Article

Mar 2018

Purpose: We examined differences in the association between alcohol use and sedentary behavior by gender among adults. Design: Cross-sectional study that employs a complex, multistage stratified probability cluster sample design. Setting: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007 to 2014. Participants: NHANES participants aged ≥20 years and identifying as Hispanic, white, or black (N = 18 441). Measures: Demographic characteristics, sedentary behavior, and alcohol consumption. Sedentary behavior was measured based on the number of minutes of sedentary activity per week. Alcohol consumption in the last year was measured based on responses to items assessing whether the participant consumes alcoholic beverages and the number of alcoholic beverages consumed on average. Analysis: Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to estimate associations of alcohol use with categories of sedentary behavior by gender. Results: Compared to women who reported not consuming alcohol, women who were heavy drinkers were significantly more likely to engage in high sedentary activity (odds ratio [OR]: 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-1.87), relative to low levels of sedentary activity. Similarly, women who were binge drinkers were more likely to engage in moderate levels of sedentary activity (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.05-1.85). There were no significant associations between alcohol use and sedentary activity among men. Conclusion: Findings suggest that alcohol consumption should be considered in health promotion efforts targeting sedentary behavior among women.

Domain-Specific Physical Activity and Mental Health: A Meta-analysis

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2017

Context: The mental health benefits of physical activity are well established. However, less is known about whether the relationship between physical activity and mental health is consistent across different life domains. It is important to understand how context may influence the relationship between physical activity and mental health so that interventions and policy guidelines can be tailored to maximize positive effects. Evidence acquisition: In 2015, systematic searches of four databases identified 13,435 records, of which 98 studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence synthesis: Included studies were published between 1988 and 2015 and had a combined sample size of 648,726. Of the 98 included studies, 93 examined leisure-time physical activity, 14 examined work-related physical activity, 15 examined transport physical activity, 16 examined household physical activity, three examined school sport, and three examined physical education. Multi-level meta-analyses showed that leisure-time physical activity (r =0.13) and transport physical activity (r =0.13) both had a positive association with mental health. Leisure-time physical activity (r = -0.11) and school sport (r = -0.09) both had an inverse association with mental ill-health. However, physical activity was not consistently associated with lower mental ill-health across domains, as work-related physical activity was positively associated with mental ill-health (r =0.09). Household physical activity and participation in physical education had no relationship with mental health or mental ill-health. Conclusions: The domain in which physical activity occurs influences the relationship between physical activity and mental health and should, therefore, be considered when developing interventions, treatment programs, and policy guidelines.

COMPARAÇÃO DA AURICULOTERAPIA COM E SEM SANGRIA NOS NÍVEIS DE DOR E ESTRESSE EM PACIENTES DE CEFALÉIA

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2015

A cefaleia do tipo tensional (CTT) é um problema comum de saúde que acomete 46% da população adulta com menos de 60 anos de idade (CHRISTENSEN, KNARDAHL, 2012). Representa 78% das dores de cabeça, quando comparadas com a enxaqueca. São incapacitantes e acarretam alto custo de tratamento e por afastamento do trabalho (BOUGEA ET AL, 2013; HOULE ET AL, 2012). Várias hipóteses sobre a causa da CTT e da enxaqueca são propostas, enquanto alguns estudos relacionam a CTT e enxaqueca ao mau funcionamento do sistema biológico (PEARCE, 1977), pesquisas recentes têm indicado que as CTT e enxaqueca são iniciadas por exposição á estresse severo, frustração, raiva e outros fatores emocionais (BOUGEA ET AL, 2013; HAMEDI ET AL, 2013). A percepção do componente emocional nas CTT tem fundamentado estudo que indicam que o tratamento com práticas integrativas podem reduzir e até curar a CTT, principalmente pelo efeito na redução da tensão muscular (BOUGEA ET AL, 2013). As práticas da Medicina Tradicional Chinesa, como auriculoterapia e acupuntura são componentes das práticas integrativas e adotadas em vários sistemas de saúde comunitária. Os primeiros relatos do uso da auriculoterapia (AT) foram datados entre 500 a 300 a.C., sendo uma modalidade complementar de tratamento muito utilizada no Brasil, USA, Canadá, China, Alemanha, Australia, Inglaterra, Espanha e Suiça (TAN ET AL, 2014). Utiliza áreas específicas da auricula para o tratamento de mal-estar e doenças (YEH ET AL, 2014; USICHENKO ET AL, 2005). No contexto da compreensão do novo conceito de saúde da Organização Mundial de Saúde, as práticas da Medicina Tradicional Chinesa buscam tratar o individuo restabelecendo o equilíbrio como forma de tratamento e com esse objetivo os protocolos de tratamento não referem-se á condição de doença, mas á origem do desequilíbrio, seja ele físico ou emocional. Tal concepção de saúde/doença promove uma variada gama de procedimentos e uma ampla discussão sobre a padronização de protocolos direcionados ao de tratamento por tipo de doença. Nesse contexto, esse estudo tem como fundamento os vários estudos que indicam a efetividade da auriculoterapia na CTT e tem como questão norteadora o entendimento do efeito de associação de duas técnicas da medicina tradicional chinesa para o tratamento da CTT. 2. Metodologia Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, experimental e quantitativo. A amostra foi composta por 28 indivíduos cefaleicos de ambos os sexos que foram classificados

מאפיינים פיזיקליים בקרב חולי נפש - סקירת ספרות

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2016

Abstract Background: Mental disorders are common, worldwide health problems. Starting July 1st 2015, mental health treatments in Israel have been incorporated into the "National Health Bill" )passed by the Knesset in 1994(, bringing to an end the 21-year-old questionable division of responsibilities for treatment of body and mind )HMOs responsible for treatments of the body; Ministry of Health responsible for treatments of psychiatric and psychological conditions(. Therefore ,community caregivers need to take into account the needs and characteristics related to the patients ’diagnoses and mental state when formulating treatment and rehabilitation programs to address these patients' health issues. Aim: The aim of this review is to examine the existing knowledge in the literature regarding the physical characteristics and level of physical activity of people with depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia, and to provide physical therapists with basic guidelines for managing the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Methods: A total of 106 articles were reviewed after a systematic and comprehensive search in the following databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO and Cochran. The first phase was carried out by searching the keyword Mental Health that was cross-linked respectively with the keywords: physical activity, pain, and body posture. In the second phase, the search was more specific using the following keywords: body posture, balance, pain, gait, fine motor, muscle strength, range of motion. Keywords in each of the above were cross-linked with the specific mental illnesses: schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders. The articles reviewed included interventional clinical trials, crpss-sectional surveys, cohort studies, literature reviews, and meta-analyses dealing with populations with mental illness. Results: The review we conducted shows that patients with mental illness manifest unique physical profiles in accordance with their clinical diagnosis (schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety): the physical profile of patients with schizophrenia is characterized by a slow gait, decrease in stride length, poor pain perception, and slowdown in fine motor skills. Patients with anxiety disorders are characterized by balance disturbances, while depressed patients are characterized by a slow gait, slumped posture, a higher incidence of pain and a decreased pain threshold and pain tolerance. Moreover, most of these patients do not engage in physical activity. There is a consensus that physical activity contributes to an overall better mental state and that the optimal physical intensity to achieve good mental health is moderate .Physical activity is a key component in improving self-esteem and an effective tool for coping with serious mental states. Discussion: While formulating a diagnosis or treatment program for patients with mental illness, one should take into consideration some specific factors ,such as pain perception ,balance and gait patterns ,in addition to the general physical activity program .More research is needed to improve our understanding of these patients in order to provide adequate recommendations and guidelines. Keywords: physical activity, pain, balance, posture, motor skills, walking, mental illness

A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey

Article

Full-text available

Mar 1996
MED CARE

Regression methods were used to select and score 12 items from the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to reproduce the Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary scales in the general US population (n = 2,333). The resulting 12-item short-form (SF-12) achieved multiple R squares of 0.911 and 0.918 in predictions of the SF-36 Physical Component Summary and SF-36 Mental Component Summary scores, respectively. Scoring algorithms from the general population used to score 12-item versions of the two components (Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary) achieved R squares of 0.905 with the SF-36 Physical Component Summary and 0.938 with the SF-36 Mental Component Summary when cross-validated in the Medical Outcomes Study. Test-retest (2-week) correlations of 0.89 and 0.76 were observed for the 12-item Physical Component Summary and the 12-item Mental Component Summary, respectively, in the general US population (n = 232). Twenty cross-sectional and longitudinal tests of empirical validity previously published for the 36-item short-form scales and summary measures were replicated for the 12-item Physical Component Summary and the 12-item Mental Component Summary, including comparisons between patient groups known to differ or to change in terms of the presence and seriousness of physical and mental conditions, acute symptoms, age and aging, self-reported 1-year changes in health, and recovery from depression. In 14 validity tests involving physical criteria, relative validity estimates for the 12-item Physical Component Summary ranged from 0.43 to 0.93 (median = 0.67) in comparison with the best 36-item short-form scale. Relative validity estimates for the 12-item Mental Component Summary in 6 tests involving mental criteria ranged from 0.60 to 1.07 (median = 0.97) in relation to the best 36-item short-form scale. Average scores for the 2 summary measures, and those for most scales in the 8-scale profile based on the 12-item short-form, closely mirrored those for the 36-item short-form, although standard errors were nearly always larger for the 12-item short-form.

Work and Family Research in IO/OB: Content Analysis and Review of the Literature (1980–2002)

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2005
J VOCAT BEHAV

This monograph reviews 190 work–family studies published in IO/OB journals from 1980 to 2002. The results of a content analysis are presented which catalog these articles with respect to the study focus, nature and direction of the proposed effects, and predictor, criterion, and mediator variables examined. Then a narrative review of the articles is presented, organized in terms of the following topical areas: (1) work–family conflict, (2) work role stress, (3) work–family assistance, (4) work schedules, (5) job-related relocation, (6) career and job-related outcomes, (7) gender and the relationship between work and family domains, (8) dual-earner couples, and (9) relationships among life domains. The review concludes with a discussion of recurring themes in the literature and the identification of blind spots in the IO/OB perspective on work and family. Specific suggestions for future research are also provided.

Definitions and factors associated with subthreshold depressive conditions: A systematic review

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2012
BMC PSYCHIATRY

Background Subthreshold depressive disorders (minor and subthrehold depression) have been defined in a wide range of forms, varying on the number of symptoms and duration required. Disability associated with these conditions has also been reported. Our aim was to review the different definitions and to determine factors associated with these conditions in order to clarify the nosological implications of these disorders. Methods A Medline search was conducted of the published literature between January 2001 and September 2011. Bibliographies of the retrieved papers were also analysed. Results There is a wide heterogeneity in the definition and diagnostic criteria of minor and subthreshold depression. Minor depression was defined according to DSM-IV criteria. Regarding subthreshold depression, also called subclinical depression or subsyndromal symptomatic depression, between 2 and 5 depressive symptoms were required for the diagnosis, and a minimum duration of 2 weeks. Significant impairment associated with subthreshold depressive conditions, as well as comorbidity with other mental disorders, has been described. Conclusions Depression as a disorder is better explained as a spectrum rather than as a collection of discrete categories. Minor and subthreshold depression are common conditions and patients falling below the diagnostic threshold experience significant difficulties in functioning and a negative impact on their quality of life. Current diagnostic systems need to reexamine the thresholds for depressive disorders and distinguish them from ordinary feelings of sadness.

Validity of Self-Report Measures of Workplace Sitting Time and Breaks in Sitting Time

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2011

Purpose: To understand the prevalence and potential health effect of prolonged workplace sedentary (sitting) time, valid measures are required. Here, we examined the criterion validity of a brief self-reported measure of workplace sitting time and breaks in sitting time. Methods: An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess workplace sitting time (h·d−1) and breaks from sitting per hour at work in a convenience sample of 121 full-time workers (36% men, mean age = 37 yr, 53% office based). These self-reported measures were compared with accelerometer-derived sedentary time (hours per day, <100 counts per minute) and breaks per sedentary hour (number of times, ≥100 counts per minute) during work hours. Results: Self-reported sitting time was significantly correlated with accelerometer-derived sedentary time (Pearson r = 0.39, 95% confidence interval = 0.22-0.53), with an average sitting time 0.45 h·d−1 higher than average sedentary time. Bland-Altman plots and regression analysis showed positive associations between the difference in sitting and sedentary time and the average of sitting and sedentary time (mean difference = −2.75 h + 0.47 × average sitting and sedentary time; limits of agreement = ±2.25 h·d−1). The correlation of self-reported breaks per sitting hour with accelerometer-derived breaks per sedentary hour was also statistically significant (Spearman rs = 0.26, 95% confidence interval = 0.11-0.44). Conclusions: This study is the first to examine the criterion validity of an interviewer-administered questionnaire measure of workplace sitting time and breaks in sitting time using objective criterion measures. The workplace sitting measure has acceptable properties for use in observational studies concerned with sedentary behavior in groups of workers; however, the wide limits of agreement suggest caution in estimating individuals' sitting time with high precision. Using self-reported measures to capture patterns of workplace sitting (such as breaks in sitting time) requires further development.

Point-of-Choice Prompts to Reduce Sitting Time at Work A Randomized Trial

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2012

Prolonged sitting is prevalent in the workplace and is associated with adverse health markers. Investigate the effects of point-of-choice (PoC) prompting software, on the computer used at work (PC), to reduce long uninterrupted sedentary periods and total sedentary time at work. Assessor-blinded, parallel group, active-controlled randomized trial. A convenience sample of office workers from Glasgow, United Kingdom. Data were collected April to June 2010, and analyzed October 2010 to June 2011. The education group (n=14) received a brief education session on the importance of reducing long sitting periods at work. The PoC group (n=14) received the same education along with prompting software on their PC for 5 workdays, which reminded them to stand up every 30 minutes. Sitting time was measured objectively using the activPAL™ activity monitor for 5 workdays at baseline and 5 workdays during the intervention. The number and time spent sitting in events >30 minutes' duration were the main outcome measures. At baseline, participants spent 5.7±1.0 hours/day (76%±9%) of their time at work sitting. Of that time, 3.3±1.3 hours/day was spent sitting in 3.7±1.4 events >30 minutes. There was a significant difference between the groups in the change (intervention to baseline) of both the number (ANCOVA; -6.8%, p=0.014) and duration (-15.5%, p=0.007) of sitting events >30 minutes. During the intervention, compared with baseline, the PoC group reduced the number (paired t-test; -0.11 events/hour, p=0.045) and duration (-12.2%, p=0.035) of sitting events >30 minutes. However, there was no significant difference in total sitting time between groups (-4.4%, p=0.084). Point-of-choice prompting software on work computers recommending taking a break from sitting plus education is superior to education alone in reducing long uninterrupted sedentary periods at work. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.govNCT01628861.

Erratum to: Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death: systematic review and meta-analysis

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2012
DIABETOLOGIA

Sedentary (sitting) behaviours are ubiquitous in modern society. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association of sedentary time with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for terms related to sedentary time and health outcomes. Cross-sectional and prospective studies were included. RR/HR and 95% CIs were extracted by two independent reviewers. Data were adjusted for baseline event rate and pooled using a random-effects model. Bayesian predictive effects and intervals were calculated to indicate the variance in outcomes that would be expected if new studies were conducted in the future. Eighteen studies (16 prospective, two cross-sectional) were included, with 794,577 participants. Fifteen of these studies were moderate to high quality. The greatest sedentary time compared with the lowest was associated with a 112% increase in the RR of diabetes (RR 2.12; 95% credible interval [CrI] 1.61, 2.78), a 147% increase in the RR of cardiovascular events (RR 2.47; 95% CI 1.44, 4.24), a 90% increase in the risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.90; 95% CrI 1.36, 2.66) and a 49% increase in the risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.49; 95% CrI 1.14, 2.03). The predictive effects and intervals were only significant for diabetes. Sedentary time is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality; the strength of the association is most consistent for diabetes.

Adult Sedentary Behavior A Systematic Review

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2012

While the health benefits of meeting moderate/vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) guidelines have been well established, the health risks of sedentary behavior, independent of meeting MVPA guidelines, are becoming evident. Sedentary behavior may require different interventions, based on correlates that differ from MVPA. The current review aimed to collect and appraise the current literature on correlates of sedentary behaviors among adults. Papers were considered eligible if they were published in English-language peer-reviewed journals and examined correlates of sedentary behaviors. Literature searches were conducted in August 2011 among ten search engines yielding 3691 potentially relevant records; of these, 109 papers (82 independent samples) passed eligibility criteria. Articles included were published between 1982 and 2011, with sample sizes ranging from 39 to 123,216. Eighty-three were cross-sectional, 24 followed a prospective design, one was experimental baseline data, and one was cohort design. Sedentary behavior was primarily measured as TV viewing or computer use, followed by analysis of a more omnibus assessment of time spent sitting. Evidence was present for sedentary behavior and correlates of education, age, employment status, gender, BMI, income, smoking status, MVPA, attitudes, and depressive symptoms/quality of life. Notable differences by specific sedentary behaviors were present that aided in the explanation of findings. Results point to the high specificity of various sedentary behaviors (e.g., TV viewing vs sitting and socializing), suggesting that the research domain is complex and cannot be considered the simple absence of MVPA. Several sociodemographic and health factors appear reliably linked to sedentary behavior, yet there is an obvious absence of research focused on cognitive, social, and environmental factors that could be of use in anti-sedentary behavior interventions.

Sitting Behaviors and Mental Health among Workers and Nonworkers: The Role of Weight Status

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2012
J Obes

Objective. To explore the associations between sitting time in various domains and mental health for workers and nonworkers and the role of weight status. Design. Cross-sectional analyses were performed for 1064 respondents (47% men, mean age 59 years) from the Doetinchem Cohort Study 2008-2009. Sedentary behavior was measured by self-reported time spent sitting during transport, leisure time, and at work. Mental health was assessed by the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5). BMI was calculated based on measured body height and weight. Results. Neither sitting time during transport nor at work was associated with mental health. In the working population, sitting during leisure time, and particularly TV viewing, was associated with poorer mental health. BMI was an effect modifier in this association with significant positive associations for healthy-weight non-workers and obese workers. Conclusion. Both BMI and working status were effect modifiers in the relation between TV viewing and mental health. More longitudinal research is needed to confirm the results and to gain insight into the causality and the underlying mechanisms for the complex relationships among sedentary behaviors, BMI, working status, and mental health.

Associations of objectively-assessed physical activity and sedentary time with depression: NHANES (2005-2006)

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2011
PREV MED

Studies provide conflicting evidence for the protective effects of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity on depression. Recent evidence suggests that sedentary behaviors may also be associated with depression. To examine the associations of accelerometer-derived moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity and sedentary time with depression among a population-based sample. Cross-sectional study using 2,862 adults from the 2005-2006 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. ActiGraph accelerometers were used to derive both moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity and sedentary time. Depression occurred in 6.8% of the sample. For moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity, compared with those in quartile 1 (least active), significantly lower odds of depression were observed for those participants in quartiles 2 (OR=0.55, 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.89), 3 (OR=0.49, 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.93), and 4 (most active) (OR=0.37, 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.70) (p for trend p<0.01). In overweight/obese participants only, those in quartile 4 (most sedentary) had significantly higher odds for depression than those in quartile 1 (least sedentary) [quartile 3 vs 1 (OR=1.94, 95% CI, 1.01 to 3.68) and 4 vs 1 (OR=3.09, 95% CI, 1.25 to 7.68)]. The current study identified lower odds of depression were associated with increasing moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity and decreasing sedentary time, at least within overweight/obese adults.

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale: Normative Data from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2011
AUST NZ J PSYCHIAT

To present Australian normative data on the ten-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, a nationally representative household survey of 8841 adults. Mean K10 scores and K10 scores at selected percentiles of the K10 score distribution are presented by sex, age, the presence of mental disorders and the presence of physical conditions. Stratum-specific likelihood ratios were computed to help clinicians and researchers calculate predicted probabilities of mental disorder given scores on the K10. Scores on the K10 were generally higher in women compared to men, in people with a mental disorder compared to without a mental disorder and in people with affective disorders compared to people with substance use disorders. The SSLRs were informative in ruling in a diagnosis of mental disorder, particularly at the high or very high end of the psychological distress spectrum. These data may be helpful for clinicians and researchers alike in understanding the likelihood of mental disorder in a given individual or sample.

Sedentary time and cardio-metabolic biomarkers in US adults: NHANES 2003-06

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2011
EUR HEART J

Prolonged sedentary time is ubiquitous in developed economies and is associated with an adverse cardio-metabolic risk profile and premature mortality. This study examined the associations of objectively assessed sedentary time and breaks (interruptions) in sedentary time with continuous cardio-metabolic and inflammatory risk biomarkers, and whether these associations varied by sex, age, and/or race/ethnicity. Cross-sectional analyses with 4757 participants (≥ 20 years) from the 2003/04 and 2005/06 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). An Actigraph accelerometer was used to derive sedentary time [< 100 counts per minute (cpm)] and breaks in sedentary time. Independent of potential confounders, including moderate-to-vigorous exercise, detrimental linear associations (P for trends < 0.05) of sedentary time with waist circumference, HDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein, triglycerides, insulin, HOMA-%B, and HOMA-%S were observed. Independent of potential confounders and sedentary time, breaks were beneficially associated with waist circumference and C-reactive protein (P for trends <0.05). There was limited evidence of meaningful differences in associations with biomarkers by age, sex, or race/ethnicity. Notable exceptions were sex-differences in the associations of sedentary time and breaks with HDL-cholesterol, and race/ethnicity differences in the association of sedentary time with waist circumference with associations detrimental in non-Hispanic whites, null in Mexican Americans, and beneficial in non-Hispanic blacks. These are the first population-representative findings on the deleterious associations of prolonged sedentary time with cardio-metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers. The findings suggest that clinical communications and preventive health messages on reducing and breaking up sedentary time may be beneficial for cardiovascular disease risk.

Physical activity, sedentary behavior and depression among disadvantaged women

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2010
HEALTH EDUC RES

This study investigated associations between components of physical activity (PA; e.g. domain and social context) and sedentary behaviors (SBs) and risk of depression in women from disadvantaged neighborhoods. A total of 3645 women, aged 18-45 years, from disadvantaged neighborhoods, self-reported their PA, SB and depressive symptoms. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each component of PA, SB and risk of depression using logistic regression analyses, adjusting for clustering by women's neighborhood of residence. Being in a higher tertile of leisure-time PA and transport-related PA was associated with lower risk of depression. No associations were apparent for domestic or work-related PA. Women who undertook a small proportion of their leisure-time PA with someone were less likely to be at risk of depression than those who undertook all leisure-time PA on their own. Women reporting greater time sitting at the computer, screen time and overall sitting time had higher odds of risk of depression compared with those reporting low levels. The domain and social context of PA may be important components in reducing the risk of depression. Reducing time spent in SB may be a key strategy in the promotion of better mental health in women from disadvantaged neighborhoods.

The relationship between physical activity and mental health varies across activity intensity levels and dimensions of mental health among women and men

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2009
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTR

To explore gender-specific variations related to activity intensity in the relationship between physical activity (PA) and mental health (MH). Evaluating whether psychological well-being enhances with increases in PA at recommended levels and above, in the general population. Cross-sectional. Population-based, representative for Belgium. A total of 6803 adults aged 25-64 years from the Belgian National Health Interview Survey. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that clearly different intensity levels characterised the PA that associated with MH in women and men. In men, inverse associations existed between participation in vigorous-intensity PA and feelings of depression (OR = 0.580; 95 % CI 0.405, 0.830), anxiety (OR = 0.547; 95 % CI 0.364, 0.821) and symptoms of somatisation (OR = 0.590; 95 % CI 0.398, 0.874). In women, positive associations existed between walking and emotional well-being (OR = 1.202; 95 % CI 1.038, 1.394) and inverse associations between participation in moderate-intensity PA and symptoms of somatisation (OR = 0.737; 95 % CI 0.556, 0.977). Secondary analyses confirmed that differences in psychological complaints were significant for vigorous PA in men, and for moderate PA in women, whereas differences in emotional well-being were significant for walking exclusively in women. In the general population, the PA-MH relationship is always positive, regardless of activity intensity. In men, it addresses complaints (symptoms, palpable discomfort) and the optimal PA intensity is high. In women, it addresses complaints, but also distress (lowered mood, disturbing anxiety, altered well-being) and the PA intensity is mild.

Do walking strategies to increase physical activity reduce reported sitting in workplaces: A randomized control trial

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2009
INT J BEHAV NUTR PHY

Interventions designed to increase workplace physical activity may not automatically reduce high volumes of sitting, a behaviour independently linked to chronic diseases such as obesity and type II diabetes. This study compared the impact two different walking strategies had on step counts and reported sitting times. Participants were white-collar university employees (n = 179; age 41.3 +/- 10.1 years; 141 women), who volunteered and undertook a standardised ten-week intervention at three sites. Pre-intervention step counts (Yamax SW-200) and self-reported sitting times were measured over five consecutive workdays. Using pre-intervention step counts, employees at each site were randomly allocated to a control group (n = 60; maintain normal behaviour), a route-based walking group (n = 60; at least 10 minutes sustained walking each workday) or an incidental walking group (n = 59; walking in workday tasks). Workday step counts and reported sitting times were re-assessed at the beginning, mid- and endpoint of intervention and group mean+/- SD steps/day and reported sitting times for pre-intervention and intervention measurement points compared using a mixed factorial ANOVA; paired sample-t-tests were used for follow-up, simple effect analyses. A significant interactive effect (F = 3.5; p < 0.003) was found between group and step counts. Daily steps for controls decreased over the intervention period (-391 steps/day) and increased for route (968 steps/day; t = 3.9, p < 0.000) and incidental (699 steps/day; t = 2.5, p < 0.014) groups. There were no significant changes for reported sitting times, but average values did decrease relative to the control (routes group = 7 minutes/day; incidental group = 15 minutes/day). Reductions were most evident for the incidental group in the first week of intervention, where reported sitting decreased by an average of 21 minutes/day (t = 1.9; p < 0.057). Compared to controls, both route and incidental walking increased physical activity in white-collar employees. Our data suggests that workplace walking, particularly through incidental movement, also has the potential to decrease employee sitting times, but there is a need for on-going research using concurrent and objective measures of sitting, standing and walking.

Physical Activity and Depression in Young Adults

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2009

Epidemiologic research suggests that physical activity is associated with decreased prevalence of depression. However, the relationship between physical activity accumulated in various domains and depression remains unclear. Further, previous population-based studies have predominantly utilized self-reported measures of physical activity and depression symptom subscales. Associations between physical activity in various domains (leisure, work, active commuting, yard/household) and depression were examined using both subjective and objective measures of physical activity and a diagnostic measure of depression. Analyses (conducted in 2007) included data from 1995 young adults participating in a national study (2004-2006). Physical activity was measured by self-report (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and objectively as pedometer steps/day. Depression (DSM-IV 12-month diagnosis of major depression or dysthymic disorder) was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. For women, moderate levels of ambulatory activity (>or=7500 steps/day) were associated with approximately 50% lower prevalence of depression compared with being sedentary (<5000 steps/day) (p trend=0.005). Relatively low durations of leisure physical activity (>or=1.25 hours/week) were associated with approximately 45% lower prevalence compared with the sedentary group (0 hours/week) (p trend=0.003). In contrast, high durations of work physical activity (>or=10 hours/week) were associated with an approximate twofold higher prevalence of depression compared with being sedentary (0 hours/week) (p trend=0.005). No significant associations were observed for steps/day in men or for other types of self-reported activity including total physical activity in both men and women. These findings indicate that the context in which physical activity is assessed and the measurement methods utilized are important considerations when investigating associations between physical activity and depression.

A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey: Construction of Scales and Preliminary Tests of Reliability and Validity

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Full-text available

Apr 1996
MED CARE

Regression methods were used to select and score 12 items from the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to reproduce the Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary scales in the general US population (n=2,333). The resulting 12-item short-form (SF-12) achieved multiple R squares of 0.911 and 0.918 in predictions of the SF-36 Physical Component Summary and SF-36 Mental Component Summary scores, respectively. Scoring algorithms from the general population used to score 12-item versions of the two components (Physical Components Summary and Mental Component Summary) achieved R squares of 0.905 with the SF-36 Physical Component Summary and 0.938 with SF-36 Mental Component Summary when cross-validated in the Medical Outcomes Study. Test-retest (2-week)correlations of 0.89 and 0.76 were observed for the 12-item Physical Component Summary and the 12-item Mental Component Summary, respectively, in the general US population (n=232). Twenty cross-sectional and longitudinal tests of empirical validity previously published for the 36-item short-form scales and summary measures were replicated for the 12-item Physical Component Summary and the 12-item Mental Component Summary, including comparisons between patient groups known to differ or to change in terms of the presence and seriousness of physical and mental conditions, acute symptoms, age and aging, self-reported 1-year changes in health, and recovery for depression. In 14 validity tests involving physical criteria, relative validity estimates for the 12-item Physical Component Summary ranged from 0.43 to 0.93 (median=0.67) in comparison with the best 36-item short-form scale. Relative validity estimates for the 12-item Mental Component Summary in 6 tests involving mental criteria ranged from 0.60 to 107 (median=0.97) in relation to the best 36-item short-form scale. Average scores for the 2 summary measures, and those for most scales in the 8-scale profile based on the 12-item short-form, closely mirrored those for the 36-item short-form, although standard errors were nearly always larger for the 12-item short-form.

International Physical Activity Questionnaire: 12-Country Reliability and Validity

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Full-text available

Sep 2003

Physical inactivity is a global concern, but diverse physical activity measures in use prevent international comparisons. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was developed as an instrument for cross-national monitoring of physical activity and inactivity. Between 1997 and 1998, an International Consensus Group developed four long and four short forms of the IPAQ instruments (administered by telephone interview or self-administration, with two alternate reference periods, either the "last 7 d" or a "usual week" of recalled physical activity). During 2000, 14 centers from 12 countries collected reliability and/or validity data on at least two of the eight IPAQ instruments. Test-retest repeatability was assessed within the same week. Concurrent (inter-method) validity was assessed at the same administration, and criterion IPAQ validity was assessed against the CSA (now MTI) accelerometer. Spearman's correlation coefficients are reported, based on the total reported physical activity. Overall, the IPAQ questionnaires produced repeatable data (Spearman's rho clustered around 0.8), with comparable data from short and long forms. Criterion validity had a median rho of about 0.30, which was comparable to most other self-report validation studies. The "usual week" and "last 7 d" reference periods performed similarly, and the reliability of telephone administration was similar to the self-administered mode. The IPAQ instruments have acceptable measurement properties, at least as good as other established self-reports. Considering the diverse samples in this study, IPAQ has reasonable measurement properties for monitoring population levels of physical activity among 18- to 65-yr-old adults in diverse settings. The short IPAQ form "last 7 d recall" is recommended for national monitoring and the long form for research requiring more detailed assessment.

The Measurement of Effort-Reward Imbalance at Work

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Apr 2004

Using comparative data from five countries, this study investigates the psychometric properties of the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) at work model. In this model, chronic work-related stress is identified as non-reciprocity or imbalance between high efforts spent and low rewards received. Health-adverse effects of this imbalance were documented in several prospective and cross-sectional investigations. The internal consistency, discriminant validity and factorial structure of 'effort', 'reward', and 'overcommitment' scales are evaluated, using confirmatory factor analysis. Moreover, content (or external) validity is explored with respect to a measure of self-reported health. Data for the analysis is derived from epidemiologic studies conducted in five European countries: the Somstress Study (Belgium; n = 3796), the GAZEL-Cohort Study (France; n = 10,174), the WOLF-Norrland Study (Sweden; n = 960), the Whitehall II Study (UK; n = 3697) and the Public Transport Employees Study (Germany; n = 316). Internal consistency of the scales was satisfactory in all samples, and the factorial structure of the scales was consistently confirmed (all goodness of fit measures were > 0.92). Moreover, in 12 of 14 analyses, significantly elevated odds ratios of poor health were observed in employees scoring high on the ERI scales. In conclusion, a psychometrically well-justified measure of work-related stress (ERI) grounded in sociological theory is available for comparative socioepidemiologic investigations. In the light of the importance of work for adult health such investigations are crucial in advanced societies within and beyond Europe.

The use of weights to account for non-response and drop-out

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May 2005

Empirical studies in psychiatric research and other fields often show substantially high refusal and drop-out rates. Non-participation and drop-out may introduce a bias whose magnitude depends on how strongly its determinants are related to the respective parameter of interest. When most information is missing, the standard approach is to estimate each respondent's probability of participating and assign each respondent a weight that is inversely proportional to this probability. This paper contains a review of the major ideas and principles regarding the computation of statistical weights and the analysis of weighted data. A short software review for weighted data is provided and the use of statistical weights is illustrated through data from the EDSP (Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology) Study. The results show that disregarding different sampling and response probabilities can have a major impact on estimated odds ratios. The benefit of using statistical weights in reducing sampling bias should be balanced against increased variances in the weighted parameter estimates.

Standing on top of the world: Is sedentary behaviour associated with mental health?

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