TY - JOUR
T1 - Male perceptions of physical activity and sedentary behavior in a university work environment
AU - George, Emma S.
AU - Rosenkranz, Richard R.
AU - Kolt, Gregory S.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Promoting physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behavior (SB) in males can be challenging, and interventions tailored specifically for males are limited. As evidence emerges on the independent risk of chronic disease from both PA and SB, understanding male perceptions of PA and SB is important to inform development of relevant interventions, especially for males who work in an office setting. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore male university employees’ perceptions on a range of issues related to participation in PA and SB. METHODS: A purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit male employees in an Australian university aged 35-64 years, to partake in a focus group. Five focus group sessions were conducted on two campuses at the University of Western Sydney, with a total of 15 participants. The number of participants in the focus groups ranged from two to four, and sessions ran for approximately 60 minutes. The mean (±SD) age of participants was 46.1 (±8.0y), and academic staff accounted for 60% of the sample. Topics for discussion included benefits, barriers, enablers, and motivators for PA, and daily SB. RESULTS: Participants were aware of the many benefits associated with regular PA, including improved health and reduced risk of chronic disease. Despite this, some participants revealed that being aware of the benefits was not enough to encourage a lifestyle change. Health and family were two of the most commonly discussed motivators for PA, whereas time constraints and work commitments were two of the major barriers to PA. Many saw inactivity as a “by-product” of their university employment, as a substantial proportion of their days were spent sitting, primarily at a computer, for work-related tasks. Participants reported that PA during working hours needed be recognized as a legitimate activity embedded within the university culture and endorsed using a top-down approach. CONCLUSION: Participants’ motivation for, and awareness of the benefits of regular PA was not enough to overcome their perceived barriers. Considering the amount of time employees spend at work, it is important to recognize PA as a legitimate activity that is supported and encouraged during working hours. These findings can be used as a platform from which to develop targeted strategies to promote PA in male university employees.
AB - Promoting physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behavior (SB) in males can be challenging, and interventions tailored specifically for males are limited. As evidence emerges on the independent risk of chronic disease from both PA and SB, understanding male perceptions of PA and SB is important to inform development of relevant interventions, especially for males who work in an office setting. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore male university employees’ perceptions on a range of issues related to participation in PA and SB. METHODS: A purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit male employees in an Australian university aged 35-64 years, to partake in a focus group. Five focus group sessions were conducted on two campuses at the University of Western Sydney, with a total of 15 participants. The number of participants in the focus groups ranged from two to four, and sessions ran for approximately 60 minutes. The mean (±SD) age of participants was 46.1 (±8.0y), and academic staff accounted for 60% of the sample. Topics for discussion included benefits, barriers, enablers, and motivators for PA, and daily SB. RESULTS: Participants were aware of the many benefits associated with regular PA, including improved health and reduced risk of chronic disease. Despite this, some participants revealed that being aware of the benefits was not enough to encourage a lifestyle change. Health and family were two of the most commonly discussed motivators for PA, whereas time constraints and work commitments were two of the major barriers to PA. Many saw inactivity as a “by-product” of their university employment, as a substantial proportion of their days were spent sitting, primarily at a computer, for work-related tasks. Participants reported that PA during working hours needed be recognized as a legitimate activity embedded within the university culture and endorsed using a top-down approach. CONCLUSION: Participants’ motivation for, and awareness of the benefits of regular PA was not enough to overcome their perceived barriers. Considering the amount of time employees spend at work, it is important to recognize PA as a legitimate activity that is supported and encouraged during working hours. These findings can be used as a platform from which to develop targeted strategies to promote PA in male university employees.
KW - sedentary behavior
KW - exercise
UR - http://handle.westernsydney.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:41075
UR - http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2013/05001/A_38_Free_Communication_Poster___Epidemiology_of.14.aspx
U2 - 10.1249/01.mss.0000433613.20932.e9
DO - 10.1249/01.mss.0000433613.20932.e9
M3 - Article
SN - 1530-0315
SN - 0195-9131
VL - 45
SP - 48
EP - 48
JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
IS - 5S Supplement 1
ER -