Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Recent evidence suggests that work-related physical activity may not have the same mental health benefits as leisure-time physical activity. Further, work-related physical activity is likely to include a variety of different behaviours for people with different occupations. As such, the aim of this study was to determine if occupation type moderated the association between work-related physical activity and psychological distress.Methods
A randomly selected sample of 1080 women from Melbourne, Australia completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), and reported their current occupation.Results
Linear regression analyses indicated that occupation significantly moderated the association between work-related walking and psychological distress (F [8, 55]?=?2.26, p?=?.036). Given evidence of moderation, we fitted linear regression models to test the associations between work-related physical activity and psychological distress for three separate groups; professionals, sales and services workers, and tradespersons. Female tradespersons who engaged in a low (B?=?-?3.81, p?=?.006) or high amount of work-related walking (B?=?-?3.23, p?=?.029), had significantly lower psychological distress symptoms than those who engaged in no work-related walking. There were no significant associations between work-related physical activity of any intensity and psychological distress for professionals, or sales and service workers.Conclusions
Given the relationship does not exist across all occupations, work-related physical activity should not be promoted above and beyond leisure-time physical activity. However, walking at work may be important in reducing psychological distress for some people and should therefore, not be discounted.
SUBMITTER: White RL
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7318444 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
White Rhiannon Lee RL Bennie Jason J Abbott Gavin G Teychenne Megan M
BMC public health 20200626 1
<h4>Background</h4>Recent evidence suggests that work-related physical activity may not have the same mental health benefits as leisure-time physical activity. Further, work-related physical activity is likely to include a variety of different behaviours for people with different occupations. As such, the aim of this study was to determine if occupation type moderated the association between work-related physical activity and psychological distress.<h4>Methods</h4>A randomly selected sample of 1 ...[more]