Evidence of Better Psychological Profile in Working Population Meeting Current Physical Activity Recommendations

Daniela Lucini, Eleonora Pagani, Francesco Capria, Michele Galliano, Marcello Marchese and Stefano Cribellati
Additional contact information
Daniela Lucini: BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
Eleonora Pagani: Corso Magenta 83/2, 20123 Milan, Italy
Francesco Capria: Assidim, 20122 Milan, Italy
Michele Galliano: Assidim, 20122 Milan, Italy
Marcello Marchese: Assidim, 20122 Milan, Italy
Stefano Cribellati: SEGE srl, 20146 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) may improve health, productivity and safety and reduce absenteeism. However, although desirable, it is difficult to design tailored (and thus effective) WHP programs, particularly in small–medium companies, which rarely have access to sufficient economic and organizational resources. In this study, 1305 employees filled out an online anonymous lifestyle questionnaire hosted on the website of a non-profit organization, which aims to promote a healthy lifestyle among workers. The data show gender differences regarding stress perception and, in the working population meeting current physical activity recommendations (threshold = 600 MET·min/week), they point out the evidence of a better psychological and nutrition profile, a perception of better job performance, and improved sleep and health quality. Moreover, a unitary index (ranging from 0–100 (with higher scores being healthier)), combining self-reported metrics for diet, exercise and stress, was significantly higher in active employees (67.51 ± 12.46 vs. 39.84 ± 18.34, p < 0.001). The possibility of assessing individual lifestyle in an easy, timely and cost-effective manner, offers the opportunity to collect grouped data useful to drive tailored WHP policies and to have metric to quantify results of interventions. This potentiality may help in creating effective programs and in improving employees’ and companies’ motivation and attitude towards a feasible WHP.

Keywords: lifestyle; prevention; workplace health promotion; stress; exercise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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