Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and its longitudinal association with physical activity and sedentary behavior

OBJECTIVE: Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many workers’ daily life and possibly their physical activity behavior. We studied the longitudinal association of working from home during the pandemic with physical activity and sedentary behavior. METHODS: Longitudinal data fr...

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Main Authors: Bette Loef, Sandra H van Oostrom, Maaike van der Noordt, Lifelines Corona Research initiative, Karin I Proper
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) 2022-07-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
Subjects:
Online Access: https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=4027
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author Bette Loef
Sandra H van Oostrom
Maaike van der Noordt
Lifelines Corona Research initiative
Karin I Proper
author_facet Bette Loef
Sandra H van Oostrom
Maaike van der Noordt
Lifelines Corona Research initiative
Karin I Proper
author_sort Bette Loef
collection DOAJ
description OBJECTIVE: Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many workers’ daily life and possibly their physical activity behavior. We studied the longitudinal association of working from home during the pandemic with physical activity and sedentary behavior. METHODS: Longitudinal data from 17 questionnaire rounds of the Lifelines COVID-19 cohort (March 2020–February 2021) were used. In total, 33 325 workers were included. In every round, participants reported their current work situation: location, home, or hybrid (working on location and from home). Physical activity levels and sedentary behavior before and during the pandemic were asked. Logistic generalized estimating equations adjusted for demographic/work/health covariates were used to study the association of work situation with physical activity and sedentary behavior. RESULTS: Home workers were less likely to meet the recommended ≥150 minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity activity during the pandemic than location workers [odds ratio (OR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90–0.96] and more likely to be less physically active than before the pandemic (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04–1.14). Furthermore, compared to location workers, home and hybrid workers were more likely to be more sedentary (sitting ≥8 hours/day) on workdays during than before the pandemic (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.39–1.64/1.36–1.68, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to location workers, home workers (and to a lesser extent hybrid workers) were more often physically inactive and sedentary during than before the COVID-19 pandemic. As a substantial part of the working population may continue to work (partly) from home after the pandemic, workers should be supported to increase activity and reduce sitting while working from home.
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spelling doaj.art-3736a0447d24405bbc99d910e33414ea2022-12-22T00:25:02ZengNordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health0355-31401795-990X2022-07-0148538039010.5271/sjweh.40274027Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and its longitudinal association with physical activity and sedentary behaviorBette Loef0Sandra H van OostromMaaike van der NoordtLifelines Corona Research initiativeKarin I ProperCenter for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.OBJECTIVE: Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many workers’ daily life and possibly their physical activity behavior. We studied the longitudinal association of working from home during the pandemic with physical activity and sedentary behavior. METHODS: Longitudinal data from 17 questionnaire rounds of the Lifelines COVID-19 cohort (March 2020–February 2021) were used. In total, 33 325 workers were included. In every round, participants reported their current work situation: location, home, or hybrid (working on location and from home). Physical activity levels and sedentary behavior before and during the pandemic were asked. Logistic generalized estimating equations adjusted for demographic/work/health covariates were used to study the association of work situation with physical activity and sedentary behavior. RESULTS: Home workers were less likely to meet the recommended ≥150 minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity activity during the pandemic than location workers [odds ratio (OR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90–0.96] and more likely to be less physically active than before the pandemic (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04–1.14). Furthermore, compared to location workers, home and hybrid workers were more likely to be more sedentary (sitting ≥8 hours/day) on workdays during than before the pandemic (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.39–1.64/1.36–1.68, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to location workers, home workers (and to a lesser extent hybrid workers) were more often physically inactive and sedentary during than before the COVID-19 pandemic. As a substantial part of the working population may continue to work (partly) from home after the pandemic, workers should be supported to increase activity and reduce sitting while working from home. https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=4027 sittinglongitudinal studyphysical activityphysical inactivitysedentary behaviorcovid-19working from homelocation workerhybrid workerhome worker
spellingShingle Bette Loef
Sandra H van Oostrom
Maaike van der Noordt
Lifelines Corona Research initiative
Karin I Proper
Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and its longitudinal association with physical activity and sedentary behavior
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
sitting
longitudinal study
physical activity
physical inactivity
sedentary behavior
covid-19
working from home
location worker
hybrid worker
home worker
title Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and its longitudinal association with physical activity and sedentary behavior
title_full Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and its longitudinal association with physical activity and sedentary behavior
title_fullStr Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and its longitudinal association with physical activity and sedentary behavior
title_full_unstemmed Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and its longitudinal association with physical activity and sedentary behavior
title_short Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and its longitudinal association with physical activity and sedentary behavior
title_sort working from home during the covid 19 pandemic and its longitudinal association with physical activity and sedentary behavior
topic sitting
longitudinal study
physical activity
physical inactivity
sedentary behavior
covid-19
working from home
location worker
hybrid worker
home worker
url https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=4027
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