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Published on: March 7, 2019
The paradox of physical activity in relation to well-being and mental health: a compositional data analysis of the
Anna Codina-Nadal1,2, Kieran Dowd3, Eva Cirera-Viñolas4,5
1Sports and Physical Activity Research Group, University of Vic-Central - University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Institute for Research and Innovation in Life Sciences and Health in Central Catalonia (IRIS-CC), Vic, Spain. anna.codina@uvic.cat.
Background:
The physical activity paradox suggests that high levels of occupational physical activity (OPA) may lead to adverse health outcomes, despite physical activity (PA) generally being beneficial. In the workplace, OPA impacts on well-being and mental health remain poorly understood, limiting the development of effective public health interventions. This study investigates how 24-hour movement patterns differ between high-OPA (manufacturing) and low-OPA (office) workers, and how these patterns relate to well-being and mental health.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study (May 2022-June 2024) was conducted with 230 employees (114 manufacturing, 116 office). Participants completed surveys on sociodemographic, self-perception (SF-12), health behaviours (PREDIMED), experience of life events, job context (EWCS), physical demands (JCQ), work-related health problems (EWCS), well-being (WLB, PHI), and mental health (MBI-GS, PHQ-9). Movement data were collected using the activPal over seven days (weekdays, weekends, work hours, and non-work hours). Compositional data analysis was applied, adjusting for confounders, to explore associations of PA pattern with well-being and mental health.
Results:
With manufacturing workers, increased sitting during work was associated with lower depression (β=-0.57; p = 0.015; OR = 0.56) and higher happiness (β = 0.56; p = 0.009), while standing during non-work hours reduced depressive symptoms (β=-2.08; p = 0.004; OR = 0.12). Sedentary weekend time also correlated with greater happiness (β = 0.57; p = 0.049). With office workers, more sitting at work was linked to greater work-life interference (β = 0.69; p = 0.032; OR = 1.99), and sitting during non-work hours was associated with reduced work-life balance (β=-1.07; p = 0.022; OR = 0.34).
Conclusions:
The effects of OPA on well-being and mental health vary by occupational context, supporting the physical activity paradox. Tailored workplace interventions should account for these differences to effectively promote employee well-being.
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