Reducing sedentary behaviour in office workers – motivational factors and barriers

¹ Faculty of Public Health and Social Welfare, Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia
² Faculty of Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia
³ Faculty of Communication, Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia
⁴ Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia

Abstract

The office workplace is considered a significant risk setting for long-term sedentary behaviour, which can lead to various adverse health consequences. Therefore, this article examines the obstacles and external factors that motivate office workers, who spend a significant part of their workday sitting, to engage in physical activity. This cross-sectional study analysed data from an anonymous survey of 232 Latvian office workers. Our results indicated that most respondents would be motivated to engage in physical activity during working hours, if employer provided motivational system (mean score 4.04 out of maximal 5 points), a specialist-led physical activity classes (4.01) or exercising together with colleagues (3.91) would be implemented at their workplace. Respondents in the following subgroups agreed more that employer provided motivational system would encourage them to be more physical activity at work: all age groups (between 3.93 and 4.18), both ‘time of sitting’ subgroups (between 4.00 and 4.07), men (3.93) and in-office workers (4.07). However, women (4.06) and remote workers (4.08) agreed more, that physical activity classes led by a specialist would be the most motivational. In contrast, highly intense work tasks were the main barrier for office workers not to be involved in physical activities at work, as it was the obstacle for 59% of the respondents. These findings can be helpful in implementing and organising health promotion interventions for office workers.