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Occupational Physical Activity Habits of UK Office Workers: Cross-Sectional Data from the Active Buildings Study

Author

Listed:
  • Lee Smith

    (The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
    Joint first authors.)

  • Alexia Sawyer

    (Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK
    Joint first authors.)

  • Benjamin Gardner

    (Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK)

  • Katri Seppala

    (Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

  • Marcella Ucci

    (UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London, Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0NN, UK)

  • Alexi Marmot

    (UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London, Gordon House, 29 Gordon Square, London, WC1H OPP, UK)

  • Pippa Lally

    (Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

  • Abi Fisher

    (Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

Abstract

Habitual behaviours are learned responses that are triggered automatically by associated environmental cues. The unvarying nature of most workplace settings makes workplace physical activity a prime candidate for a habitual behaviour, yet the role of habit strength in occupational physical activity has not been investigated. Aims of the present study were to: (i) document occupational physical activity habit strength; and (ii) investigate associations between occupational activity habit strength and occupational physical activity levels. A sample of UK office-based workers ( n = 116; 53% female, median age 40 years, SD 10.52) was fitted with activPAL accelerometers worn for 24 h on five consecutive days, providing an objective measure of occupational step counts, stepping time, sitting time, standing time and sit-to-stand transitions. A self-report index measured the automaticity of two occupational physical activities (“being active” (e.g., walking to printers and coffee machines) and “stair climbing”). Adjusted linear regression models investigated the association between occupational activity habit strength and objectively-measured occupational step counts, stepping time, sitting time, standing time and sit-to-stand transitions. Eighty-one per cent of the sample reported habits for “being active”, and 62% reported habits for “stair climbing”. In adjusted models, reported habit strength for “being active” were positively associated with average occupational sit-to-stand transitions per hour (B = 0.340, 95% CI: 0.053 to 0.627, p = 0.021). “Stair climbing” habit strength was unexpectedly negatively associated with average hourly stepping time (B = −0.01, 95% CI: −0.01 to −0.00, p = 0.006) and average hourly occupational step count (B = −38.34, 95% CI: −72.81 to −3.88, p = 0.030), which may reflect that people with stronger stair-climbing habits compensate by walking fewer steps overall. Results suggest that stair-climbing and office-based occupational activity can be habitual. Interventions might fruitfully promote habitual workplace activity, although, in light of potential compensation effects, such interventions should perhaps focus on promoting moderate-intensity activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee Smith & Alexia Sawyer & Benjamin Gardner & Katri Seppala & Marcella Ucci & Alexi Marmot & Pippa Lally & Abi Fisher, 2018. "Occupational Physical Activity Habits of UK Office Workers: Cross-Sectional Data from the Active Buildings Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-10, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:6:p:1214-:d:151549
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abi Fisher & Marcella Ucci & Lee Smith & Alexia Sawyer & Richard Spinney & Marina Konstantatou & Alexi Marmot, 2018. "Associations between the Objectively Measured Office Environment and Workplace Step Count and Sitting Time: Cross-Sectional Analyses from the Active Buildings Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-11, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Viktoria Wahlström & David Olsson & Fredrik Öhberg & Tommy Olsson & Lisbeth Slunga Järvholm, 2020. "Underlying Factors Explaining Physical Behaviors among Office Workers—An Exploratory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-16, December.

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