Projects per year
Abstract
Background Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are major public health problems. We examined the
individual and joint associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and total sitting time with emotional wellbeing, physical functioning and work ability in young and early midlife employees.
Methods Cross-sectional questionnaire survey data were collected in 2017 among 19–39-year-old employees of
the City of Helsinki (response rate 51.5%). LTPA (including commuting PA) was converted into a metabolic equivalent
(MET) index. We classified the participants into four groups according to PA recommendations and participation in
vigorous intensity activities. Total sitting time was classified into three groups using tertile cut-points (5.5 and 8.5 h/
day). For joint analyses, we truncated LTPA into three groups and sitting time into two groups yielding a six-category
variable. Emotional wellbeing and physical functioning were measured using the RAND-36 questionnaire and work
ability with a scale ranging from 0 to 100. Linear regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted means and their
95% confidence intervals (CIs). The analytical sample included 4544 participants (80% females).
Results Adjusting for age and sex, high sitting time (> 8.5 h/day) was associated only with poorer emotional
wellbeing. LTPA, especially vigorous activity, showed clear positive associations with emotional wellbeing, physical
functioning and work ability. For emotional wellbeing, the low activity groups with low (70.51, 95% CI 69.1–71.9) and
high (67.5, 65.5–69.5) sitting time and the moderate activity groups with low (72.5, 71.3–73.7) and high (70.4, 68.6–
72.1) sitting time had statistically significantly lower mean scores than the corresponding vigorous activity groups
with low (74.9, 74.2–75.7) and high (72.7, 71.6–73.9) sitting time. For physical functioning, the vigorous activity groups
with low (96.3, 95.8–96.7) and high (96.2, 95.5–96.9) sitting time had significantly higher scores than the other groups.
For work ability, the vigorous activity groups with low (82.0, 81.3–82.6) and high (80.8, 79.8–81.8) sitting time had
significantly higher scores than the other groups. Adjusting for covariates only slightly attenuated these associations.
individual and joint associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and total sitting time with emotional wellbeing, physical functioning and work ability in young and early midlife employees.
Methods Cross-sectional questionnaire survey data were collected in 2017 among 19–39-year-old employees of
the City of Helsinki (response rate 51.5%). LTPA (including commuting PA) was converted into a metabolic equivalent
(MET) index. We classified the participants into four groups according to PA recommendations and participation in
vigorous intensity activities. Total sitting time was classified into three groups using tertile cut-points (5.5 and 8.5 h/
day). For joint analyses, we truncated LTPA into three groups and sitting time into two groups yielding a six-category
variable. Emotional wellbeing and physical functioning were measured using the RAND-36 questionnaire and work
ability with a scale ranging from 0 to 100. Linear regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted means and their
95% confidence intervals (CIs). The analytical sample included 4544 participants (80% females).
Results Adjusting for age and sex, high sitting time (> 8.5 h/day) was associated only with poorer emotional
wellbeing. LTPA, especially vigorous activity, showed clear positive associations with emotional wellbeing, physical
functioning and work ability. For emotional wellbeing, the low activity groups with low (70.51, 95% CI 69.1–71.9) and
high (67.5, 65.5–69.5) sitting time and the moderate activity groups with low (72.5, 71.3–73.7) and high (70.4, 68.6–
72.1) sitting time had statistically significantly lower mean scores than the corresponding vigorous activity groups
with low (74.9, 74.2–75.7) and high (72.7, 71.6–73.9) sitting time. For physical functioning, the vigorous activity groups
with low (96.3, 95.8–96.7) and high (96.2, 95.5–96.9) sitting time had significantly higher scores than the other groups.
For work ability, the vigorous activity groups with low (82.0, 81.3–82.6) and high (80.8, 79.8–81.8) sitting time had
significantly higher scores than the other groups. Adjusting for covariates only slightly attenuated these associations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 24 |
| Journal | Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviors |
| Volume | 2 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| ISSN | 2731-4391 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Dec 2023 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Fields of Science
- 3142 Public health care science, environmental and occupational health
Projects
- 1 Active
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Helsinki Health Study
Lallukka, T., Kouvonen, A., Rahkonen, O., Lahelma, E., Lahti, J., Harkko, J., Heinonen, N. A., Hiilamo, A. J., Kanerva, N., Karjala, A. K., Martikainen, P., Mauramo, E., Mänty, M., Pekkala, J., Pietiläinen, O., Piha, K., Roos, E., Nordquist, H., Salmela, J. H., Salonsalmi, A., Silventoinen, K., Suur-Uski, J., Svärd, A., Kivimäki, M., Marmot, M., Sekine, M., Blomgren, J., Karvonen, S., Laaksonen, M., Leino-Arjas, P., Etholén, A. J., Vähäsarja, L. E. J. & Päivärinne, V.
01/01/2000 → …
Project: Research project