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Published on: March 7, 2019
Postpandemic Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity Among IT Workers.
Sungwon Park1, Brad Wipfli, Li Zhao
1From the Joe C. Wen School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (S.P.); School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland, Oregon (B.W.); Faculty of Business Administration, Macau Millennium College, Macau (L.Z.); School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (L.Z., M.-A.R., J.L.L.); and School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (W.C.).
IT workers, especially hybrid ones, face high sedentary behavior (SB) and low physical activity (PA). Interventions should focus on behavioral education and supportive work environments to improve health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Post-pandemic work arrangements impact employee health.
- Information Technology (IT) workers are at high risk for sedentary behavior (SB) and insufficient physical activity (PA).
- Understanding factors influencing SB and PA is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess post-pandemic work arrangements among IT workers.
- To examine sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) levels in this population.
- To identify factors influencing SB and PA in IT workers.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional, mixed-methods study with 80 IT workers (Nov 2023 - Apr 2024).
- Objective assessment of SB and PA using accelerometry.
- Survey data and qualitative analysis explored influencing factors.
Main Results:
- IT workers averaged 10.76 hours of SB daily, with 3.72 hours prolonged.
- Daily PA averaged 221 minutes of light and 21 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity.
- Hybrid workers exhibited higher SB; individual perceptions and workplace support were key factors.
Conclusions:
- Hybrid IT workers require targeted interventions to mitigate health risks.
- Multilevel strategies, including behavioral education, are recommended.
- Supportive work environments are essential for promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior.
