Recovery from work and physical activity among Finnish higher education personnel - an online survey study

Recovery from work is precious for higher education personnel due to workload pressures, psychosocial distress, and burnout risk. Research is needed on how they recover from their work and whether they utilize physical activity as a recovery activity. This study aimed to explore recovery from work, physical activity, and active breaks among higher education personnel.

The participants were Finnish higher education personnel members who belonged to a professional association (N = 1578). Data was collected between 1-2/2025 with an online survey, comprising questions of background information, recovery from work (the Need for Recovery, NfR), and physical activity (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, GPAQ). Descriptive statistics, crosstabulation, nonparametric tests, and linear regression were used.

The response rate was 15% (n = 229). The respondents recovered moderately, with a median NfR of 3.1 on a scale of 1-5. On average, they had vigorous leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) 3 days per week and moderate LTPA 4 days per week, while 88% reported no occupational physical activity (OPA). Persons who were physically active during breaks had a lower NfR (median 2.9 vs. 3.2), as well as those with 3-4 vigorous LTPA days per week (median NfR 2.7), than persons not engaging in vigorous LTPA (3.2). However, in the linear regression model adjusted for age, gender, sedentary time, active commuting, and physical activity and sports as a hobby, the associations of vigorous LTPA and active breaks with NfR were not statistically significant. Only age explained NfR.

The findings of this study confirm differences in NfR by physical activity during breaks and LTPA. Adjusted models did not verify direct associations of NfR with active breaks and LTPA. Only age explained NfR in the adjusted linear regression model.