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The effects of workplace flexibility on health behaviors: a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis
Joseph G Grzywacz1, Patrick R Casey, Fiona A Jones
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, USA. grzywacz@wfubmc.edu
Objective:
To examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between workplace flexibility and health behaviors, and estimate the potential importance of flexibility for effective worksite health promotion programs.
Method:
Cross-sectional and longitudinal health risk appraisal data were obtained from US based employees of a multinational pharmaceutical company (n = 3193). Examined health behaviors were hours of sleep, physical activity frequency, health education seminar attendance, frequency of practicing personal resilience techniques, and self-appraised lifestyle. Self-reported flexibility in the workplace was the primary independent variable.
Results:
Each health behavior, except regular attendance in health education seminars, was positively related to perceived flexibility in cross-sectional analyses. Sleep and self-appraised lifestyle were significantly related to changes in perceived flexibility over time.
Conclusions:
Workplace flexibility may contribute to positive lifestyle behaviors, and may play an important role in effective worksite health promotion programs.
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