Changing Sedentary Behavior in the Office: A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing the Effect of Affective, Instrumental, and Self-Regulatory Messaging on Sitting

Dual processing approach to sedentary behavior and physical activity in the workplace

Regular physical activity is an important health promoting behavior. Yet, many adults live sedentary lifestyles, especially during their workday. The current study applies an extended theory of planned behavior model, incorporating affective attitudes and instrumental attitudes, along with habit, to predict limiting sedentary behavior and physical activity within an office environment. Theory of planned behavior constructs and habit were assessed with an online survey on a sample of 180 full-time office workers, with self-reported behavior assessed 1 week later (Mage = 25.97, SDage = 10.24; 44 males, 134 females, and 2 nonbinary). Model fit was indicated by BRMSEA (M = 0.057, SD = 0.023), B γ^ (M = 0.984, SD = 0.010) and BCFI (M = 0.959, SD = 0.026), accounting for 46.1% of variance in intention, 21.6% of variance in sedentary behavior, and 17.4% of variance in physical activity behavior. A Bayesian structural equation model revealed direct effects of instrumental attitudes and perceived behavioral control on intention to limit sedentary behavior, direct effects of intention and perceived behavioral control on limiting sedentary behavior, and direct effects of perceived behavioral control and habit on engaging in physical activity. The current study indicates intentions to be active in the office are primarily driven by beliefs about the benefits of activity and individuals' perceived level of control, rather than normative or affective beliefs. As behavior was predicted by both intention and habit, findings also indicate office-based activity is likely not always a consciously driven decision. These findings may have implications for improving activity levels in this highly sedentary population.

What works to reduce sedentary behavior in the office, and could these intervention components transfer to the home working environment?: A rapid review and transferability appraisal

Background

Working patterns have changed dramatically due to COVID-19, with many workers now spending at least a portion of their working week at home. The office environment was already associated with high levels of sedentary behavior, and there is emerging evidence that working at home further elevates these levels. The aim of this rapid review (PROSPERO CRD42021278539) was to build on existing evidence to identify what works to reduce sedentary behavior in an office environment, and consider whether these could be transferable to support those working at home.

Methods

The results of a systematic search of databases CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, CINHAL, and SportDiscus from 10 August 2017 to 6 September 2021 were added to the references included in a 2018 Cochrane review of office based sedentary interventions. These references were screened and controlled peer-reviewed English language studies demonstrating a beneficial direction of effect for office-based interventions on sedentary behavior outcomes in healthy adults were included. For each study, two of five authors screened the title and abstract, the full-texts, undertook data extraction, and assessed risk of bias on the included studies. Informed by the Behavior Change Wheel, the most commonly used intervention functions and behavior change techniques were identified from the extracted data. Finally, a sample of common intervention strategies were evaluated by the researchers and stakeholders for potential transferability to the working at home environment.

Results

Twenty-two studies including 29 interventions showing a beneficial direction of effect on sedentary outcomes were included. The most commonly used intervention functions were training (n = 21), environmental restructuring (n = 21), education (n = 15), and enablement (n = 15). Within these the commonly used behavior change techniques were instructions on how to perform the behavior (n = 21), adding objects to the environment (n = 20), and restructuring the physical environment (n = 19). Those strategies with the most promise for transferring to the home environment included education materials, use of role models, incentives, and prompts.

Conclusions

This review has characterized interventions that show a beneficial direction of effect to reduce office sedentary behavior, and identified promising strategies to support workers in the home environment as the world adapts to a new working landscape.Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021278539, identifier CRD42021278539.