Chronic work stress and risk of physical inactivity
Dr. Anne Kouvonen (CoEfPHNI)
14.00, Wednesday 10 July. Millennium Lounge, level 5
Aim
The aim of this study was to examine whether exposure to work stress predicts changes in physical activity and increases the risk of insufficient physical activity.
Methods
Prospective data were derived from the Finnish Public Sector Study. Repeated exposure to low job control, high job demands, low effort, low rewards, and compositions of them (job strain and effort- reward imbalance) were assessed at Time 1 (2000-02) and Time 2 (2004). Insufficient physical activity (<14 MET hours per week) was measured at Time 1 and Time 3 (2008). Fixed-effects (within-subject) models (N=6665) and logistic regression analysis (N=13,976) were applied.
Results
In the fixed-effect analysis an increase in work stress was associated with an increase in physical inactivity within an individual. In between-subjects analysis, employees with repeated exposure to low job control and low rewards were more likely to be insufficiently active at follow-up than those with no reports of these stressors; fully adjusted odds ratios ranged from 1.11 (95%CI=1.00-1.24) to 1.21 (95%CI=1.05-1.39).
Conclusions
An increase in workplace stressors is associated with an increase in insufficient physical activity within an individual. In addition, there is a weak-dose-response association between repeated exposure to workplace stressors and the likelihood of insufficient physical activity.
The aim of this study was to examine whether exposure to work stress predicts changes in physical activity and increases the risk of insufficient physical activity.
Methods
Prospective data were derived from the Finnish Public Sector Study. Repeated exposure to low job control, high job demands, low effort, low rewards, and compositions of them (job strain and effort- reward imbalance) were assessed at Time 1 (2000-02) and Time 2 (2004). Insufficient physical activity (<14 MET hours per week) was measured at Time 1 and Time 3 (2008). Fixed-effects (within-subject) models (N=6665) and logistic regression analysis (N=13,976) were applied.
Results
In the fixed-effect analysis an increase in work stress was associated with an increase in physical inactivity within an individual. In between-subjects analysis, employees with repeated exposure to low job control and low rewards were more likely to be insufficiently active at follow-up than those with no reports of these stressors; fully adjusted odds ratios ranged from 1.11 (95%CI=1.00-1.24) to 1.21 (95%CI=1.05-1.39).
Conclusions
An increase in workplace stressors is associated with an increase in insufficient physical activity within an individual. In addition, there is a weak-dose-response association between repeated exposure to workplace stressors and the likelihood of insufficient physical activity.