Internal and External Motivating Factors and Barriers Influencing Physical Activity Involvement in Office Workers

Description

The office workplace is considered as a significant risk setting for long-term sedentary behavior, which can lead to various adverse health consequences. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify obstacles, internal and external factors that motivate office workers, who spend a significant part of their workday sitting, to engage in physical activity.. A cross sectional study was conducted by collecting data from anonymous online survey of Latvian office workers, which was carried out from April to May of 2022. Internal and external motivational factors for engagement in physical activity at the workplace were assessed by 5-point Likert scale. Frequency analysis and Pearson Chi-square test were used.. A total of 232 respondents were included in this study (mean age 38.7±11.6 years), 79.3 % females (n=184) and 19.8 % males (n=46). 60.3% (n=140) of participants mentioned that one of the main barriers to being physically active is highly intensive work tasks. Major motivating factors to engage in physical activity at the workplace are employer provided motivational system (47.0%; n=107), physical activity classes lead by specialists at the workplace (44.4%; n=103), accompaniment by colleagues (43.5%; n=101), employer-provided standing desks in the workplace (38.8%; n=90). Notification systems, such as smartwatches, most likely would not increase the physical activity level of the office workers in the long term. . Social engagement factors like co-workers’ involvement in physical activities and resources provided by the employer predict higher individual office worker involvement in physical activity at the workplace, in contrast significant barriers for physical movement are linked to intensive work and shortage of time. Such findings must be implemented in organizing health promotion interventions for office workers.

Period	29 Mar 2023
Event title	RSU Research week 2023: Society. Health. Welfare
Event type	Conference
Conference number	9
Organiser	Rīga Stradiņš University
Location	Riga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International