A case study of a workplace recreation-based physical activity program

Improving Teachers' Work-Related Outcomes through a Group-Based Physical Activity Intervention during Leisure-Time

“…Consistent with our hypothesis, a medium effect size was found in teachers' relatedness satisfaction at work after the intervention program. Results of this study are in line with a few previous interventions in other professions that have suggested the effectiveness of group-based PA with work colleagues in order to improve their integration and interpersonal relationships (Andersen et al, 2015;Bruton et al, 2012;Podlog & Dionigi, 2009). All these results are congruent with the social interaction hypothesis (Ransford, 1982;Teychenne et al, 2008;White et al, 2017) which suggests that participating in PA with other people may generate psychosocial benefits.…”

“…According to the social interaction hypothesis, the social relationships and social support that emerge among those who take part in regular group-based PA activities may help to deal with physical and mental health problems (Ransford, 1982;Teychenne, Ball, & Salmon, 2008) by creating broader social networks, avoiding feelings of loneliness, and increasing personal resources such as self-esteem (Pels & Kleinert, 2016). Within the work-context, group-based PA participation with work colleagues can provide a large number of opportunities for social interactions (Bruton, Vurnakes, Martin, Perry, & Henderson, 2012). A sense of belonging and warm relationships with work colleagues in group-based PA sessions may, consequently, be effective in improving relatedness satisfaction among teachers at work (Andersen et al, 2015;Arrogi, Schotte, Bogaerts, Boen, & Seghers, 2017).…”

“…Despite the aforementioned overall benefits of PA in work-related outcomes (e.g., Naczenski et al, 2017;Stults-Kolehmainen & Sinha, 2014), a recent body of research additionally suggests that regular PA participation with work colleagues may also be associated with additional social and psychological health benefits among employees (e.g., Jakobsen, Sundstrup, Brandt, & Andersen, 2017;White et al, 2017). Several group-based PA interventions at worksites have shown improvements, not only in PA levels but also in relatedness satisfaction in LTPA (Harden et al, 2015) and in their work (Andersen et al, 2015;Bruton et al, 2012). For example, in a group-based PA intervention at a worksite conducted by Podlog & Dionigi (2009), several employees manifested the friendship and camaraderie that they experienced with their work colleagues.…”

“…For example, in a group-based PA intervention at a worksite conducted by Podlog & Dionigi (2009), several employees manifested the friendship and camaraderie that they experienced with their work colleagues. Likewise, Andersen et al (2015) and Bruton et al (2012) reported the benefits of a group-based PA intervention at the workplace for enhancing worksite social capital, integration, and interpersonal interactions among employees. A possible mechanism could be explained by the social interaction hypothesis (Ransford, 1982;Teychenne et al, 2008;White et al, 2017), which suggests that participating in PA with other people may generate psychosocial benefits.…”

“…Prior to the start of the intervention, experimental group teachers were informed at a meeting about the benefits and risks of inactivity with the aim of encouraging teachers to participate in the PA program. Given the efficacy demonstrated by playful, strength, and aerobic activities in previous PA interventions among employees (e.g., Bruton et al, 2012;Gerber et al, 2013), the initial design of this LTPA intervention aimed to develop these three types of sessions.…”