Association between Psychosocial and Organizational Factors and Objectively Measured Sedentary Behavior in Desk-Dependent Office Workers

Abstract

Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Recharge@Work study was used to assess individual, interpersonal and organizational correlates of objectively- measured sedentary time, in desk-dependent office workers at 2 U.S. hospitals. Analysis included 65 participants (62 females and ~49.2 years old). Sedentary time was assessed by accelerometry across five consecutive days and expressed as prolonged sedentary bouts (60 min ≤ 150 cpm). Correlates measured a baseline included: age, BMI, active break enjoyment, active break outcome expectancy, active break self-efficacy, active break social support, direct supervisor support of active breaks and senior manager support of active breaks. As expected, we found that the more individuals perceived their supervisor as supportive of active breaks and the more they enjoyed active breaks, the more likely they were to actually take active breaks (i.e., to experience less sedentary time, OR = 2.8, CI = 1.1–7.1; OR = 5.2, CI = 1.4–19.2 respectively). However, contrary to our expectations, the more employees perceived their senior managers as supportive of active breaks, the less likely they were to take these breaks (OR = 0.29, CI = 0.09–0.93). No significant associations were found between age, gender, BMI, outcome expectancy, or self-efficacy and active breaks from sedentary behavior.