Environmental and Social Support of Physical Activity Influences at the Worksite

Background:

Physical activity is a leading health indicator of Healthy People 2010, including aims to increase the proportion of adults who engage regularly in moderate physical activity (PA). Most Americans spend the majority of their time at work; therefore, a better understanding of physical and social environmental factors related to PA at the worksite is warranted.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to (1) determine available environmental and social support for PA engagement of employees of a higher education institution and (2) examine the relationship between these supports and self-reported PA engagement.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study using an on-line questionnaire was conducted with employees of a higher education institution (n=203). Participants were 69% female, 87.2% white, and 77.3% had earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

Measures:

Perceived physical and social environmental worksite factors related to PA were measured using the SEALS. PA engagement was measured using a self-administered 7-day PA Recall.

Results:

Bivariate analyses revealed a positive relationship between total minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA reported per week and having seen or known (1) coworkers engaging in PA at the worksite (p<.05), (2) information sources at the worksite that promoted or directed participation in PA (p<.05), and (3) information sources at the worksite that encouraged participation in fitness related events (p<.01).

Conclusions:

Results indicate a lack of worksite support for PA and a need for future research examining relationships among PA and various forms of physical and social environmental influences at the worksite.