Occupational sitting time, its determinants and intervention strategies in Malaysian office workers: a mixed-methods study

Sep 13, 2021Health promotion international

Time spent sitting at work, its causes, and ways to reduce it in Malaysian office workers

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Abstract

Mean daily sitting time at work was 5.96 hours among Malaysian government office workers.

High sedentary time is linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension.
Prolonged sitting may also be associated with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Barriers and facilitators influencing occupational sitting time were identified through focus group discussions.
Factors affecting sitting time include intrapersonal, social, and physical environmental elements, as well as organizational culture.
A smartphone-based intervention to reduce sitting time at work is currently being tested.

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Adults who accumulate a lot of sedentary time per day are at an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Prolonged sitting is also associated with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. With the increase in desk-based office work, many office workers spend long hours sitting at the workplace. The aim of this study was to assess occupational sitting time in Malaysian government office workers, and investigate determinants of occupational sitting time and potential strategies to interrupt sitting time. We conducted a mixed-methods study consisting of a survey and focus group discussions (FGDs). A total of 1338 office workers from 24 Malaysian ministries completed the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire. Twenty-nine office workers who spent at least 7 h per day sitting at work participated in FGDs. We enquired about knowledge, awareness and perceptions related to prolonged sitting time, barriers and facilitators to sitting time at work, and potential intervention strategies. Mean daily sitting time at work was 5.96 h (standard deviation = 1.37 h). FDGs confirmed barriers and facilitators to sitting time in accordance with the social-ecological model for health. Intrapersonal, social and physical environmental factors as well as organizational culture and organizational policy were mentioned to affect occupational sitting time. The results show that Malaysian government office workers spent a significant amount of time sitting at work and we identified multi-level factors influencing sitting time. A smartphone-based intervention to interrupt sitting time at work was suggested and is currently being tested.

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Occupational sitting time, its determinants and intervention strategies in Malaysian office workers: a mixed-methods study

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