Smith_2019_38.doc (247.5 kB)
Association between physical activity and sickness absenteeism in university workers
journal contribution
posted on 2023-08-30, 16:45 authored by Rubén López-Bueno, Lee Smith, Lars L. Andersen, Guillermo F. López-Sánchez, José A. CasajúsBackground: Sedentary occupations have increased by more than 10% in Western countries over the last two decades, and the yearly global cost of physical inactivity has been estimated to be $53.8 billion. As workers tend to move less in the workplace, they are more likely to develop a sedentarism-related chronic condition and to be absent from work due to illness, although research evidence on the issue remains unclear.
Aims: To investigate associations between physical activity (PA) and sickness absenteeism in the workplace among Spanish university workers.
Methods: We conducted cross-sectional research with data from 1025 workers aged 18 to 65 (43% women)from a Spanish university. Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short versions were used to evaluate levels of PA. Workplace absenteeism was self- reported by participants. Written questionnaires distributed during medical checks included PAVS, IPAQ and the question about absenteeism among other information. The association between PA and sickness absenteeism was examined using adjusted multiple linear regression.
Results: After adjusting for age, sex, job function, chronic conditions, sedentarism and smoking, each weekly hour of PA reduced sickness absence by -1.20 (95% CI:-2.40 to 0.00) days per year.
Conclusions: The implementation of PA promotion strategies aimed at university employees may lead to a reduction of days off work due to illness.
History
Refereed
- Yes
Volume
70Issue number
1Page range
24-30Publication title
Occupational MedicineISSN
1471-8405External DOI
Publisher
Oxford University PressFile version
- Accepted version
Language
- eng
Official URL
Legacy posted date
2019-11-11Legacy creation date
2019-11-11Legacy Faculty/School/Department
Faculty of Science & EngineeringUsage metrics
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