Non-occupational sitting and mental well-being in employed adults

Atkin, Andrew J.; Adams, Emma; Bull, Fiona C.; Biddle, Stuart J.H.

Abstract

Background
Emerging evidence suggests that sedentary behaviour may be adversely associated with physical health, but few studies have examined the association with mental well-being.

Purpose
This study examined the association of four non-occupational sedentary behaviours, individually and in total, with mental well-being in employed adults.

Methods
Baseline data from the evaluation of Well@Work, a national workplace health promotion project conducted in the UK, were used. Participants self-reported sitting time whilst watching television, using a computer, socialising and travelling by motorised transport. Mental well-being was assessed by the 12-item version of the general health questionnaire. Analyses were conducted using multiple linear regression.

Results
In models adjusted for multiple confounders, TV viewing, computer use and total non-occupational sitting time were adversely associated with general health questionnaire-12 assessed mental well-being in women. Computer use only was found to be adversely associated with mental well-being in men.

Conclusion
Sedentary behaviour may be adversely associated with mental well-being in employed adults. The association may be moderated by gender.

Citation

Atkin, A. J., Adams, E., Bull, F. C., & Biddle, S. J. (2012). Non-occupational sitting and mental well-being in employed adults. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 43(2), 181-188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9320-y

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Nov 8, 2011
• Publication Date: 2012-04
• Deposit Date: Sep 20, 2023
• Journal: Annals of Behavioral Medicine
• Print ISSN: 0883-6612
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 181-188
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9320-y
• Keywords: Sedentary behaviour, Sitting time, Mental well-being, Effect modification
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/25077013
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/abm/article/43/2/181/4564042?login=false