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Do Not Sit This One Out: a Mixed-Methods Study on Sitting in Office Environments

Lagemaat, Femke van de (2018) Do Not Sit This One Out: a Mixed-Methods Study on Sitting in Office Environments.

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Abstract:Prolonged sitting is associated with health risks such as all-cause mortality, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. This mixed-methods study investigated sitting behaviour in (semi-)governmental office environments. In the first study, office workers’ average workday sitting durations were gathered through the newly developed brief questionnaire on occupational sitting (BQOS). Participants (N=310) sat exactly 11 hours of which over six and a half hours was occupational. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences for age, educational levels and working hours. Most of the sample (almost) never used facilities as alternatives to traditional sitting. In the subsequent qualitative study, knowledge and awareness of the health risks associated with prolonged sitting were investigated of highly sedentary office workers. Furthermore, if and how knowledge and awareness were related to sedentary behaviour. Participants (interviewed, n=10) from the quantitative study showed relatively low knowledge of the health risks but most were aware of risks. No relationship was found between knowledge, awareness and sitting behaviour. Awareness seemed to be more predictive than knowledge. Additional findings related to intentions and barriers. Additional determinants were proposed for the ecological model. Future research should assess these determinants including the proposed determinants in other target groups and validate the BQOS.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/75007
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