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Assessing and understanding sedentary behaviour in office-based working adults: a mixed-method approach
Clarice N Waters1, Er Pei Ling1, Anne H Y Chu1
1Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Tahir Foundation Building, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.
BMC Public Health
|April 28, 2016
Summary
Office workers exhibit high levels of sedentary behavior (SB), spending most of their day sitting. Workplace norms and infrastructure significantly hinder efforts to reduce SB and increase physical activity (PA).
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Sedentary behaviors (SB), characterized by low energy expenditure (e.g., sitting), are increasingly prevalent in office settings due to technological advancements.
- Prolonged SB is linked to a higher risk of chronic health conditions.
- Understanding SB patterns and barriers among office workers is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess sedentary behavior levels among office workers.
- To identify barriers and strategies for reducing sedentary behavior in the workplace.
- To explore the influence of socio-ecological factors on occupational sedentary behavior.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative (accelerometry, self-report) and qualitative (focus group discussions) data collection.
- Participants included non-academic office workers from a professional school.
- Environmental factors were assessed using the Checklist for Health Promotion Environments at Worksites (CHEW).
Main Results:
- Objective and self-reported data indicated high levels of sedentary behavior, with participants spending over 75% of their time sedentary on workdays.
- Key barriers to reducing SB included workplace social/cultural norms, personal factors, job scope, and physical office infrastructure.
- Environmental assessments confirmed a lack of supportive infrastructure and information environments for reducing SB.
Conclusions:
- High sedentary behavior is prevalent among office workers, influenced by individual, environmental, and organizational factors.
- Workplace norms and physical infrastructure represent significant barriers to reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity.
- Interventions to reduce occupational SB should adopt a multi-level approach targeting individual, environmental, and organizational factors.
