Self-reported sitting time and physical activity: interactive associations with mental well-being and productivity in office employees

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about how sitting time, alone or in combination with markers of physical activity (PA), influences mental well-being and work productivity. Given the need to develop workplace PA interventions that target employees’ health related efficiency outcomes; this study examined the associations between self-reported sitting time, PA, mental well-being and work productivity in office employees.MethodsDescriptive cross-sectional study. Spanish university office employees (n = 557) completed a survey measuring socio-demographics, total and domain specific (work and travel) self-reported sitting time, PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version), mental well-being (Warwick-Edinburg Mental Well-Being Scale) and work productivity (Work Limitations Questionnaire). Multivariate linear regression analyses determined associations between the main variables adjusted for gender, age, body mass index and occupation. PA levels (low, moderate and high) were introduced into the model to examine interactive associations.ResultsHigher volumes of PA were related to higher mental well-being, work productivity and spending less time sitting at work, throughout the working day and travelling during the week, including the weekends (p < 0.05). Greater levels of sitting during weekends was associated with lower mental well-being (p < 0.05). Similarly, more sitting while travelling at weekends was linked to lower work productivity (p < 0.05). In highly active employees, higher sitting times on work days and occupational sitting were associated with decreased mental well-being (p < 0.05). Higher sitting times while travelling on weekend days was also linked to lower work productivity in the highly active (p < 0.05). No significant associations were observed in low active employees.ConclusionsEmployees’ PA levels exerts different influences on the associations between sitting time, mental well-being and work productivity. The specific associations and the broad sweep of evidence in the current study suggest that workplace PA strategies to improve the mental well-being and productivity of all employees should focus on reducing sitting time alongside efforts to increase PA.

Impact of a workplace ‘sit less, move more’ program on efficiency-related outcomes of office employees

“…Higher presenteeism has been associated with (i) high sitting times before/after work and during lunch hours [26], and (ii) high occupational and total sitting time on workdays in highly active office employees [27]; suggesting that workplace strategies to improve the productivity of office employees should focus on reducing sitting time alongside efforts to increase PA [27]. Given the need to target specific employee behaviors that improve both health and efficiency-related outcomes; understanding whether workplace interventions for reducing occupational sitting promote productivity is a key issue.…”

Association of after school sedentary behaviour in adolescence with mental wellbeing in adulthood

“…Subjective well-being is being increasingly seen as an indicator of societal progress (Stiglitz, 2009) and research has demonstrated the importance of positive wellbeing in predicting various health outcomes, including survival independently of negative states such as depression (Pressman & Cohen, 2005). There is limited evidence in relation to sedentary behavior, although recent data has suggested an association between greater work place sitting and lower mental wellbeing in office employees (Puig-Ribera et al, 2015). These analyses were not adjusted for measures of negative affect, such as depressive symptoms, thus results might simply reflect the absence of negative states.…”

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Clustering: Segmentation to Optimize Active Lifestyles

“…30 For some groups, strategies that focus on improvements in these behaviours simultaneously are effective. 31 Nevertheless, research surrounding effective intervention and policy to achieve this end is not well developed. 3,32 The latest evidence indicates that interventions aiming to increase MVPA, or combine increases in MVPA with reductions in sedentary behaviour are not effective for reducing sedentary time.…”