Common Perceived Barriers and Facilitators for Reducing Sedentary Behaviour among Office Workers

Carla F. J. Nooijen, Lena V. Kallings, Victoria Blom, Örjan Ekblom, Yvonne Forsell and Maria M. Ekblom
Additional contact information
Carla F. J. Nooijen: The Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, 11365 Stockholm, Sweden
Lena V. Kallings: The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), 11486 Stockholm, Sweden
Victoria Blom: The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), 11486 Stockholm, Sweden
Örjan Ekblom: The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), 11486 Stockholm, Sweden
Yvonne Forsell: The Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, 11365 Stockholm, Sweden
Maria M. Ekblom: The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), 11486 Stockholm, Sweden

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-8

Abstract: Qualitative studies identified barriers and facilitators associated with work-related sedentary behaviour. The objective of this study was to determine common perceived barriers and facilitators among office workers, assess subgroup differences, and describe sedentary behaviour. From two Swedish companies, 547 office workers (41 years (IQR = 35–48), 65% women, 66% highly educated) completed questionnaires on perceived barriers and facilitators, for which subgroup differences in age, gender, education, and workplace sedentary behaviour were assessed. Sedentary behaviour was measured using inclinometers ( n = 311). The most frequently reported barrier was sitting is a habit (67%), which was reported more among women than men (Χ 2 = 5.14, p = 0.03) and more among highly sedentary office workers (Χ 2 = 9.26, p < 0.01). The two other most reported barriers were that standing is uncomfortable (29%) and standing is tiring (24%). Facilitators with the most support were the introduction of either standing- or walking-meetings (respectively 33% and 29%) and more possibilities or reminders for breaks (31%). The proportion spent sedentary was 64% at the workplace, 61% on working days, and 57% on non-working days. This study provides a detailed understanding of office workers’ ideas about sitting and means to reduce sitting. We advise to include the supported facilitators and individualized support in interventions to work towards more effective strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour.

Keywords: sedentary behaviour; workplace; office workers; barriers; facilitators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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