Stress and Work Performance Responses to a Multicomponent Intervention for Reducing and Breaking up Sitting in Office
Benjamin D Maylor1, John Hough, Charlotte L Edwardson
1From the Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research, School of Sport Science and Physical Activity, University of Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom (B.D.M., J.H., J.K.Z.-F., D.P.B.); Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (B.D.M., C.L.E.); Leicester Diabetes Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom (B.D.M., C.L.E.); School of Science and Technology, Department of Sport Science, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom (J.H.); Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom (D.P.B.); and Division of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom (D.P.B.).
Objective:
The aim of the study is to explore the potential of a sitting reduction workplace intervention for improving stress and work performance.
Methods:
A cluster randomized controlled trial evaluated an intervention to reduce and break up occupational sitting in 12 clusters ( n = 89 office workers) over 8 weeks. Outcomes were physiological stress (cortisol concentrations), perceived stress, and work performance.
Results:
Linear mixed model group × time interaction effects were nonsignificant. Exploratory analyses showed a trend, with a large effect, for lower cortisol concentrations over the day in the intervention group relative to controls at 8 weeks (-0.85; 95% confidence interval, -1.70 to 0.03 nmol·L -1 ; P = 0.06, d = 0.79). The intervention group had higher vigor and cognitive liveliness at 8 weeks relative to controls ( P ≤ 0.05).
Conclusions:
This exploratory study suggests that there could be meaningful changes in physiological stress and work-related outcomes that should be investigated in future studies.
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