Sitting patterns after relocation to activity-based offices: A controlled study of a natural intervention

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Traditional office environments often contribute to prolonged sedentary behavior.
• Activity-based offices (ABOs) are designed to promote movement and reduce sitting time.
• The impact of relocating to ABOs on objectively measured sitting patterns requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the effect of relocating workers from traditional to activity-based offices on objectively measured sitting patterns.
• To analyze changes in total sitting time, and time spent in short, moderate, and prolonged uninterrupted sitting periods.
• To compare intervention effects at 3- and 12-month follow-ups.

Main Methods:

• A controlled study involving 493 office workers across five sites, with four sites transitioning to activity-based offices and one control site.
• Objective measurement of sitting, standing, and walking using accelerometry (Actigraph) for 5-8 days in a sub-sample of 110 workers.
• Analysis using linear mixed models, adjusted for baseline covariates and stratified by office site.

Main Results:

• Overall, relocation to activity-based offices showed no significant effect on total occupational sitting time.
• A significant increase in walking time was observed (1.4% of working time) at 12 months compared to controls.
• Heterogeneous results across sites indicated significant variations in changes to sitting, walking, and standing time.

Conclusions:

• Relocation to activity-based offices had a limited overall impact on occupational sitting patterns within the studied organization.
• Significant site-specific differences in outcomes suggest that the effectiveness of activity-based offices is context-dependent.
• Identifying site-specific determinants influencing sitting behavior in activity-based offices is crucial for optimizing their design and impact.