Determinants of participation in worksite health promotion activities

A model of risk factors and psychosocial variables that should enhance the prediction of participation in worksite health promotion programs was evaluated in a sample of 357 States employees in South Carolina. Degree of satisfaction with one's current health status, intent to change it, and participation in a relevant program were assessed in four health areas: weight, exercise, alcohol consumption, and the handling of stress and tension. In each area, a known risk factor was used to predict intent to change and participation during a one-year interval. Variables from the psychosocial model were added in a step-wise regression procedure. The key variables in the psychosocial model were personal efficacy, job stress, and trait anxiety. Neither intent to change a health relevant behavior nor degree of satisfaction with the health area were consistently associated with subsequent participation in a relevant health promotion program. The regression model was a statistically significant predictor of actual participation in two cases: exercise and weight control. For exercise, participators tended to be persons whose job stress was high (r = 0.15) and whose anxiety was high (r = 0.16). In the case of weight control, those who were high in the body mass index (r = 0.22) and in job stress (r = 0.15) were more likely to participate. Participants in stress management also had higher levels of job stress.