Interventions for promoting physical activity and/or reducing sedentary behaviour in older workers: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Behavioral Science
• Gerontology

Background:

• Older workers face unique challenges regarding physical activity and sedentary behavior.
• Economic inactivity due to ill health is increasing in this demographic.
• Evidence-based interventions are needed to support older workers' health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review interventions promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in older workers.
• To identify key components of effective interventions using Intervention Component Analysis (ICA).
• To highlight gaps in current research, particularly for remote workers.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of relevant literature was performed.
• Intervention Component Analysis (ICA) was used to dissect intervention strategies.
• Thirty-eight articles were included, with 22 eligible for ICA.

Main Results:

• Planning for change and addressing barriers were identified as crucial intervention components.
• Social support from professionals, family, or groups significantly impacts behavior change.
• These components positively influence physical activity and sedentary behavior in older workers.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to use ICA for analyzing interventions targeting older workers' physical activity and sedentary behavior.
• A research gap exists for interventions aimed at older workers who work from home.
• Further development of interventions is necessary to address rising economic inactivity due to health issues in older workers.