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Effects of Sedentary Behavior Interventions on Mental Well-Being and Work Performance While Working from Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Author

Listed:
  • Grace E. Falk

    (School of Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, KS 67214, USA)

  • Emily L. Mailey

    (Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA)

  • Hayrettin Okut

    (Department of Population Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, KS 67214, USA)

  • Sara K. Rosenkranz

    (Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA)

  • Richard R. Rosenkranz

    (Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA)

  • Justin L. Montney

    (Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA)

  • Elizabeth Ablah

    (Department of Population Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, KS 67214, USA)

Abstract

Sedentary behavior negatively impacts mental health, which can decrease employee productivity. Employee mental well-being and work performance may improve with sedentary reduction interventions, especially strategies that include environmental workplace modifications and behavior-changing strategies. However, such interventions have not been examined among employees working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Stand Up Kansas program, 95 sedentary university employees working from home were randomized into one of four intervention arms: height-adjustable desk provision (Desk Only), online sedentary behavior modification program (Program Only), Desk + Program, or Control. The outcomes were measured at a baseline (November 2020) and following the 12-week intervention (February 2021). Employees reported mood (positive and negative affect), stress, fatigue (duration, interference with activities and severity) and work performance (irritability, focus, work satisfaction, non-work satisfaction and productivity) were measured using established self-report instruments. The effect sizes, by comparing the Control arm to the Desk + Program arm, revealed large improvements in mood (positive affect, d = 1.106). Moderate improvements were also seen in fatigue (duration, d = −0.533, and interference with activities, d = −0.648) and several aspects of work performance (focus, d = 0.702, work satisfaction, d = 0.751, and productivity, d = 0.572). Moderate effect sizes were also seen for positive affect ( d = 0.566) and fatigue severity ( d = 0.577) among the Program Only arm, whereas no noteworthy effect sizes were observed among the Desk Only arm. Combining an online sedentary behavior modification program with height-adjustable desk provisions appeared to positively affect mental well-being and work performance among remote employees.

Suggested Citation

  • Grace E. Falk & Emily L. Mailey & Hayrettin Okut & Sara K. Rosenkranz & Richard R. Rosenkranz & Justin L. Montney & Elizabeth Ablah, 2022. "Effects of Sedentary Behavior Interventions on Mental Well-Being and Work Performance While Working from Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-14, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6401-:d:823242
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Nirjhar Dutta & Gabriel A. Koepp & Steven D. Stovitz & James A. Levine & Mark A. Pereira, 2014. "Using Sit-Stand Workstations to Decrease Sedentary Time in Office Workers: A Randomized Crossover Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-13, June.
    4. Abigail S. Morris & Kelly A. Mackintosh & David Dunstan & Neville Owen & Paddy Dempsey & Thomas Pennington & Melitta A. McNarry, 2020. "Rise and Recharge: Effects on Activity Outcomes of an e-Health Smartphone Intervention to Reduce Office Workers’ Sitting Time," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Sara K. Rosenkranz & Emily L. Mailey & Emily Umansky & Richard R. Rosenkranz & Elizabeth Ablah, 2020. "Workplace Sedentary Behavior and Productivity: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-14, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Joseph Crawford, 2022. "Working from Home, Telework, and Psychological Wellbeing? A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Ralf C. Buckley & Mary-Ann Cooper, 2022. "Tourism as a Tool in Nature-Based Mental Health: Progress and Prospects Post-Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-15, October.

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