The Influence of Daily Stress on Sedentary Behavior: Group and Person (N of 1) Level Results of a 1-Year Observational Study

Abstract

These findings suggest that the influence of stress on sedentary behavior varies by source of stress and from person to person. A precision medicine approach may be warranted to target reductions in sedentary time, although further studies are needed to confirm the observed findings in light of study limitations including a small sample size and enrollment of participants from a single, urban metropolitan area.

The association between sedentary behaviour and indicators of stress: a systematic review

“…Four studies were longitudinal [33, 38, 45, 55] ( n = 271 to 11,676), two were controlled clinical trials [39, 48] ( n = 43–231), two were pilot interventions [40, 52] ( n = 12 to 20) and two were direct observation studies (i.e. where time in sedentary behaviour was collected for one year or one month and averaged) [33, 37] ( n = 79 to 140). The majority of these studies were conducted in Australia ( n = 8) and the US ( n = 8).…”

Device-Measured Desk-Based Occupational Sitting Patterns and Stress (Hair Cortisol and Perceived Stress)

“…Whilst this is thought to be the first study to explore the relationship between hair cortisol levels and device-based measures of occupational sitting patterns, previous studies employing self-reported measures of these outcomes have reported similar findings [19,20]. For example, although they used self-reported sedentary behaviour in different context (not specifically occupational sitting) and reported on a different population ( n = 72 women from low socio-economic areas of Australia as opposed to a more educated working population in Scotland), Teychenne et al (2018) found no relationship between self-reported TV viewing time, computer usage or overall sitting and hair cortisol levels [20].…”

“…Knowing more details about the source of stress might therefore be important. This idea is alluded to in a recent study by Diaz et al (2018) [19]. In this N of one, yearlong observational study (a type of statistical modelling that determines associations at an individual level and accounts for individual variability) [35], they assessed device recorded sedentary behaviour, a global measure of stress (self-reported end of day stress) and source specific stress (including running late for work) in 79 healthy working adults in America.…”

“…Reasons for these inconsistent findings could include the influence of contextual factors (sitting for leisure such as watching TV could actually be used as a strategy to de-stress) or the self-reported nature of the measures of stress and sedentary behaviour. In two more recent studies that have used either objective measures of stress (saliva cortisol levels or hair cortisol levels—a biomarker of chronic stress) or sedentary behaviour (body worn activity trackers), the results suggest that there is no association between stress and sedentary behaviour [19,20]. Diaz et al (2018) measured objective sedentary behaviour using a Fitbit and self-reported end of day stress and found no association between the two outcomes [19].…”

“…In two more recent studies that have used either objective measures of stress (saliva cortisol levels or hair cortisol levels—a biomarker of chronic stress) or sedentary behaviour (body worn activity trackers), the results suggest that there is no association between stress and sedentary behaviour [19,20]. Diaz et al (2018) measured objective sedentary behaviour using a Fitbit and self-reported end of day stress and found no association between the two outcomes [19]. Similarly, Teychene et al (2018) found no relationship between objectively measured stress from hair cortisol levels and self-reported sedentary behaviours (television viewing, computer use, or overall sitting time) in woman from low socio-economic status areas [20].…”