Worksite Physical Activity and Nutrition

Abstract

Participation in regular physical activity and consumption of a balanced diet have been shown to produce numerous health benefits. Despite many benefits, the majority of the American population does not meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity and nutrition behaviors. Worksite settings represent a potentially ideal setting through which health behavior interventions can be delivered. The majority of the population is employed and worksites typically involve individuals from various stages of life, which allows for programs to be broad-reaching. Understanding the theoretical underpinnings of physical activity and nutrition behaviors is important to guide future physical activity and nutrition promotion programs. Interventions that have been conducted in worksite settings in the past have been criticized for having poor design and lacking theoretical guidance. As such, the present study prospectively examined the social cognitive influences of physical activity and nutrition behaviors in a sample of university employees (N=179). The longitudinal associations of social cognitive constructs with physical activity and nutrition behaviors were examined using a panel analysis and standard covariance modeling framework. Baseline relationships supported the use of a comprehensive social cognitive framework to explain physical activity behavior. Over time, change in self-efficacy was the only significant predictor of change in physical activity behavior. Nutrition results were not as robust, though patterns did emerge to suggest that social cognitive variables may be important in predicting this behavior. By identifying potential models of theoretical constructs associated with physical activity and nutrition, this study has implications for behavior intervention design and implementation in worksite settings. Further research examining the consistency of these theoretical models for physical activity and nutrition in worksite setting is warranted.