Stand Up, Students! Decisional Cues Reduce Sedentary Behavior in University Students

Abstract

Background: University students are prone to sedentary behavior (SB) which is associated with multiple negative health outcomes. Sit-stand desks may allow for a reduction of SB through standing bouts. To promote standing in university students, decisional cues might be a low-cost approach that can easily be implemented. Purpose: To investigate the effects of decisional cues on students' SB, standing, and active behavior. Method: Over 3 weeks, students were observed in a building on a German university campus, which provides sit-stand-desks in study areas, using an adapted version of the SOPLAY protocol. Baseline data was collected in the first week (T1), before posters and table plaques containing decisional cues were set up in the study areas. Effects were measured in the following 2 weeks (T2 and T3). Results: 2,809 (33% female) students were observed. Sitting decreased from 92.9% [SD = 14.9] to 84.5% [SD = 22.1] from T1 to T3 [ F (1, 141) = 15.6; p < 0.01; η 2 = 0.10]. Standing increased from 5.6% [SD = 13.5] to 10.9% [SD = 14.4] [ F (1, 141) = 9.0; p < 0.01; η 2 = 0.06] and being active from 1.5% [SD = 6.9] to 4.5% [SD = 14.8] from T1 to T3 [ F (1, 141) = 4.2; p < 0.05; η 2 = 0.03). Main effect analyses revealed more students standing in the afternoon compared to morning and lunchtime [ F (2, 140) = 3.2; p < 0.05; η 2 = 0.04). Discussion: Decisional cues could decrease students' SB and promote standing or being active as alternatives. Future research should use a more rigorous study design. The content of the decisional cues should be explored more and expanded to other health promotion areas on campus.

College Classroom Instructors Can Effectively Promote Standing among Students Provided with Standing Desks

“…Students sitting for more than 30 min during the lecture accounted for over 30% of the control group compared to only 5% of the intervention group, indicating that visual and oral prompts were effective methods for reducing sedentary behavior in college classrooms. Other evidence supports visual cues and reminders from instructors as being positively associated with students engaging in less sedentary behavior during class [ 12 , 13 ].…”

“…The top three reported reasons for using a standing desk were to break up sitting time ( n = 31), to reduce back pain ( n = 28), and to increase attention and ability to focus ( n = 26). Knowing the reasons students stand could perhaps be used in future messages and prompts to promote standing in college classrooms, particularly since others have found that visual decisional cues can increase standing in college students [ 13 ]. Students in this study overwhelmingly indicated that the five visual and oral prompts were adequate.…”

“…One study of instructor-led activity breaks found that students used standing desks during class enjoyed activity cues from the instructor; however, the authors reported their classroom was set up for students to be highly active even without standing desks [ 12 ]. The use of visual prompts such as posters and table plaques has increased standing and reduced sitting time in college students in study areas and school libraries [ 13 ]. Evidence also shows the motivational effect of prompts in workplace office environments increased standing transitions over a sustained period of time [ 14 ].…”

Feasibility of Reducing and Breaking Up University Students' Sedentary Behaviour: Pilot Trial and Process Evaluation

“…Their findings support sit-to-stand desks as an approach to reducing sedentary behaviour in University classrooms. Mnich et al (2019) found that placing decisional cues in open study areas (i.e., posters and table plaques with phrases such as "Standing up means studying easier! "; "Be smart, stand up!")…”

“…In a pilot randomised control trial, Sui and Prapavessis ( 2018 ) provided evidence for the potential of an intervention to increase break frequency during occupational (student) sedentary behaviour. Some other interventions (i.e., Jerome et al, 2017 ; Mnich et al, 2019 ) have focused on introducing environmental changes. Jerome et al ( 2017 ) tested the effects of introducing sit-to-stand desks into a University classroom on student's sitting and standing behaviours.…”