Older empoyees' participation in a workplace wellness program and behavior change: The Illinois workplace wellness study

Kim, Do Yun

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/114020 Copy

Description

Title

Older empoyees' participation in a workplace wellness program and behavior change: The Illinois workplace wellness study

Author(s)

Kim, Do Yun

Issue Date

2021-12-09

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

• Payne, Laura L
• Liechty, Toni

Department of Study

Recreation, Sport and Tourism

Discipline

Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Older employees
• Workplace wellness program

Abstract

As of the turn of the 21st century, life expectancy in the United States increased by nearly a decade, and injuries and illnesses among private industry workplaces have decreased significantly (Woolf & Schoomaker, 2019; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). However, the health and well-being of older employees are threatened due to an increase in the elderly working population and an increase in unhealthy lifestyles (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Accordingly, various workplace wellness programs have been introduced employers (Pencak, 1991; Reardon, 1998). The workplace wellness program has a great effect on improving employees’ health and reducing medical expenses (Merrill et al., 2011; Neville et al., 2011; Schwatka et al., 2018; Steffen et al., 2015). However, the actual participation rate of employees is relatively low due to barriers coming from culture, environment, worksite characteristics, employee interest, and involvement (Claxton et al., 2015; Miller, 2009; Person et al., 2010; Warehime et al., 2019). Also, elderly workers need a wellness program tailored for them according to their physical and external environments (Cornwell & Waite, 2009; Jaul & Barron, 2017; National Research Council, 2004; Truxillo et al., 2015). This study examined the factors that motivate participation among older employees in a workplace wellness program. Specifically, the study examined the factors of age, health behavior, wellness program participation rate, level of job satisfaction, absenteeism and presenteeism, presence or absence of chronic disease that affected older participants’ experience in the workplace wellness program.

Graduation Semester

2021-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/114020

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2021 Do Yun Kim

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