Effects of supervisor support and work environment characteristics on using time at work to exercise in a worksite randomized controlled trial of physical activity Open Access

Abstract

Abstract

Effects of supervisor support and work environment characteristics on using time at work to exercise in a worksite randomized controlled trial of physical activity

By Jeffrey Michael Bale

Objective: To examine the association between perceived work environment supports, including supervisor support, and using time at work to exercise.

Methods: Utilizing data from the Physical Activity and Life Styles (PALS) randomized control trial of 188 participants who were provided time at work to exercise, time at work to exercise was modeled with multivariate logistic regression adjusting for covariates and the effects of department-level clustering. Supervisor surveys and focus groups were analyzed to determine the level of supervisor support.

Results: Participants who indicated that they were able to take off work to exercise were 2.8 times more likely to use time at work to exercise that those who were not able to take off work to exercise (95% CI 1.3 to 6.1); Participants who had too much work to get everything done well were 0.3 times less likely to use time at work to exercise (95% CI, 0.2 to 0.7); Participants who had enough time to get everything done well were 3.7 times as likely to use time at work to exercise (95% CI 1.6 to 8.5). Job satisfaction and the ability to take time off for personal matters were not significantly associated with using time. Participants who did not use the intervention cited lack of supervisor support as a reason for not using time.

Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis that individuals with a supportive work environment were more likely to use time at work to exercise. Not all work environment characteristics were significant, suggesting that workload and having time during the day are more important than job satisfaction or the ability to start or quit at varying times. Supervisor support affected whether participants used time at work to exercise, suggesting that supervisors have a role in enabling employees to participate in physical activity.

Keywords: supervisor support, work environment, physical activity, time at work to exercise, time at work for physical activity.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Literature Review.................................................................................................................... 3

Methods.............................................................................................................................. 15

Results................................................................................................................................ 27

Discussion............................................................................................................................ 37

Public Health Implications and Suggestions................................................................................. 42

Tables................................................................................................................................. 44

Figures................................................................................................................................ 56

Citations.............................................................................................................................. 57

Appendices........................................................................................................................... 64

Appendix A: Survey Instruments....................................................................................... 64

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Subfield / Discipline	Global Epidemiology - MPH & MSPH
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Keyword	worksite physical activity time at work to exercise time at work for physical activity supervisor support work environment paid-time physical activity
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Gazmararian, Julie A, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Emory University schools, faculty or affiliated programs

Last modified

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	Effects of supervisor support and work environment characteristics on using time at work to exercise in a worksite randomized controlled trial of physical activity ()	2018-08-28 11:08:34 -0400	Press to Select an action Download

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions