Workplace Physical Activity Interventions : Longitudinal, Dynamic, and Meta-Analytic Insights

This dissertation investigates the effectiveness of workplace physical activity interventions (WPAIs) in enhancing employees’ health and functioning. Physical inactivity is recognized as a silent pandemic, contributing to numerous health risks such as musculoskeletal complaints (MSC) and increased absenteeism. As the workplace increasingly involves sedentary tasks, WPAIs—which integrate regular bouts of physical activity in organizational contexts—have emerged as a promising approach for improving employee well-being. Notably, mind-body interventions (combining physical and mindfulness-based components) may outperform body-only interventions focusing solely on physical exertion.

Three empirical studies form the core of this work. Study 1, a longitudinal randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 459 office workers, compares an office-yoga and a walking intervention. Both effectively reduced the prevalence and intensity of MSC, although walking proved slightly superior for alleviating complaint intensity. Study 2 reanalyzes these data to examine how early success (i.e., initial velocity and acceleration in MSC reduction) predicts overall effectiveness, highlighting the importance of fostering positive intervention experiences at the outset. Study 3, a meta-analysis of 80 RCTs, found that WPAIs reduce mental and physical health complaints and bolster organizational outcomes (e.g., job satisfaction, productivity), with mind-body approaches showing consistently higher effectiveness than body-only interventions. Group-based WPAIs also demonstrate better adherence in studies targeting health complaints. Overall, this dissertation underscores the value of holistic, well-structured WPAIs—emphasizing initial momentum, adherence, and the added benefits of mindfulness-based and group-based formats—for advancing employee health and performance in the modern workplace.

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