Exploring Job-Related Factors and Exercise Intentions in Relation to Overall Physical Activity and Its Subdivisions

Behav Sci (Basel). 2024 Oct 8;14(10):912. doi: 10.3390/bs14100912.

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between job-related factors and overall physical activity (PA), including its subdivisions: leisure-time PA, transportation PA, and work-related PA. Additionally, this study investigated the associations between exercise intentions and different types of PA. A cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing a questionnaire to collect data on participants' demographics, job-related characteristics, exercise intentions, and levels of PA. A total of 400 full-time workers voluntarily participated in this study. The findings identified women, white-collar workers, those with longer working hours, and individuals with low exercise intentions as high-risk groups for insufficient overall PA in multiple linear regression analysis. After controlling for covariates, occupation was found to be associated with both overall PA (β = 0.146) and work-related PA (β = 0.236). Shift workers exhibited higher levels of work-related PA (β = 0.234). Furthermore, exercise intentions showed associations with overall PA (β = 0.243), leisure-time PA (β = 0.523), and transportation PA (β = 0.176) but did not demonstrate a significant relationship with work-related PA. This study highlights the importance of implementing comprehensive approaches in workplace health promotion programs aimed at enhancing various types of PA. Strategies should focus on improving exercise intentions to boost leisure-time and transportation PA, while work-related PA requires tailored interventions based on job-specific factors.

Keywords: exercise intention; physical activity; workplace health promotion.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.