The effects of workplace flexibility on health behaviors: a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis
Grzywacz, Joseph G. ; Casey, Patrick R. ; Jones, Fiona A.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2007
49
12
1302-1309
labour flexibility ; life style ; occupational health ; pharmaceutical industry ; work load ; workplace ; cross section analysis
Occupational safety and health
English
Bibliogr.;Charts;[Internet download]
"Objective: To examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between workplace flexibility and health behaviors, and estimate the potential importance of flexibility for effective worksite health promotion programs.
Method: Cross-sectional and longitudinal health risk appraisal data were obtained from US based employees of a multinational pharmaceutical company (n _ 3193). Examined health behaviors were hours of sleep, physical activity frequency, health education seminar attendance, frequency of practicing personal resilience techniques, and self-appraised lifestyle. Self-reported flexibility in the workplace was the primary independent variable.
Results: Each health behavior, except regular attendance in health education seminars, was positively related to perceived flexibility in cross-sectional analyses. Sleep and self-appraised lifestyle were significantly related to changes in perceived flexibility over time.
Conclusions: Workplace flexibility may contribute to positive lifestyle behaviors, and may play an important role in effective worksite health promotion programs."
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