Perspectives of Office Workers on Physical Activity and Interventions to Increase Physical Activity: A Case Study

Sevda Emir; Sebahat Gözüm; İlhan Günbayı

doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1895234

Perspectives of Office Workers on Physical Activity and Interventions to Increase Physical Activity: A Case Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to explore office workers’ perceptions of physical activity and workplace interventions designed to increase physical activity levels, and to identify motivating factors influencing their participation. Methods: This qualitative research was conducted within an interpretive paradigm using a holistic single case study design. The sample consisted of seven voluntary participants (four academic and three administrative staff) employed at a foundation university in Antalya, Türkiye. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis. Data were analyzed using thematic and content analysis with NVivo 10 software. Credibility was ensured through data triangulation and member checking. Ethical approval was obtained from the Akdeniz University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (25.01.2024; TBAEK-54). Results: Four main themes emerged regarding physical activity preferences. Walking was the most preferred activity (57.1%). Weight gain and health-related concerns were identified as the primary motivational factors (42.9%). Most participants (71.4%) expressed a preference for workplace environments that facilitate walking. More than half of the participants (57.1%) considered themselves physically inactive. Conclusion: Workplace-based physical activity interventions may support office workers in improving health behaviors. Sustainable and feasible programs tailored to employees’ needs and supported by organizational policies may enhance participation in physical activity.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Akdeniz University

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Akdeniz University Clinical Trials Ethics Committee (01.25.2024; TBAEK - 54), which confirmed that the planned study complied with international standards and the principles of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to the interviews. Participants were informed that all data collected during the interviews would remain confidential, would not be shared with individuals outside the research team, and that their names would not appear in the report.

Thanks

We would like to thank all participants for their time and valuable contributions to this study.

References

1. Prince SA, Rasmussen CL, Biswas A, Holtermann A, Aulakh T, Merucci K, et al. The effect of leisure time physical activity and sedentary behaviour on the health of workers with different occupational physical activity demands: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021;18:1-17.
2. Haileamlak A. Physical inactivity: the major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2019;29(1):8-10.
3. Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, Borodulin K, Buman MP, Cardon G, et al. World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54:1451-62.
4. World Health Organization. WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour at a glance. Geneva: WHO; 2024.
5. Katzmarzyk PT, Friedenreich C, Shiroma EJ, Lee IM. Physical inactivity and non-communicable disease burden in low-, middleand high-income countries. Br J Sports Med. 2022;56(2):101-6.
6. Giovannucci EL, Rezende LFM, Lee DH. Muscle-strengthening activities and risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and mortality: a review of prospective cohort studies. J Intern Med. 2021;290(4):789-805.
7. Li Y, Schoufour J, Wang DD, Dhana K, Pan A, Liu X, et al. Healthy lifestyle and life expectancy free of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2020;368:l6669.
8. Silveira EA, Mendonça CR, Delpino FM, Elias Souza GV, Pereira de Souza Rosa L, de Oliveira C, et al. Sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, abdominal obesity and obesity in adults and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2022;50:63-73.

9. Halk Sağlığı Uzmanları Derneği. 10 Mayıs “Sağlık İçin Hareket Et” Günü Bilgi Notu. Ankara: HASUDER; 2023.
10. World Health Organization. Launch of new global estimates on levels of physical activity in adults. Geneva: WHO; 2018.
11. Blackburn NE, Wilson JJ, McMullan II, Caserotti P, Giné-Garriga M, Wirth K, et al. The effectiveness and complexity of interventions targeting sedentary behaviour across the lifespan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020;17:1-18.
12. T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü. Toplumda fiziksel aktivitenin desteklenmesi: Fiziksel Aktivite Bilim Komisyonu Raporu. Ankara: Sağlık Bakanlığı; 2022.
13. Günbayi I. Developing a qualitative research manuscript based on systematic curriculum and instructional development. Eur J Soc Sci. 2018.
14. Cohen L, Manion L, Morrison K. Research methods in education. London: Routledge; 2007.
15. Günbayi İ. Social paradigms in guiding social research design: the functional, interpretive, radical humanist and radical structural paradigms. Int J New Trends Educ Their Implications. 2018;9(2):1-20.
16. Günbayi I. Systematic curriculum and instructional development for a mixed methods research: SCID-MMR. J Mixed Methods Stud. 2020;1(1):1-27.
17. Landis JR, Koch GG. The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics. 1977;33(1):159-74.
18. Lincoln YS, Guba EG. Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park (CA): Sage; 1985.
19. Marcen C, Piedrafita E, Oliván R, Arbones I. Physical activity participation in rural areas: a case study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1161.
20. Grigoletto A, Mauro M, Maietta Latessa P, Iannuzzi V, Gori D, Campa F, et al. Impact of different types of physical activity in green urban space on adult health and behaviors: a systematic review. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ. 2021;11(1):263-75.
21. Bora N, KV, Verma A, Bharti AK, Sinha MK. Physical activity and sedentary behavior perceptions in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review of qualitative studies. F1000Research. 2024;13:787.
22. Ryde GC, Atkinson P, Stead M, Gorely T, Evans JMM. Physical activity in paid work time for desk-based employees: a qualitative study of employers’ and employees’ perspectives. BMC Public Health. 2020;20:1.
23. Safi A, Cole M, Kelly AL, Zariwala MG, Walker NC. Workplace physical activity barriers and facilitators: a qualitative study based on employees’ physical activity levels. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(15).
24. Casimiro-Andújar AJ, Checa JC, Lirola MJ, Artés-Rodríguez E. Promoting physical activity and health in the workplace: a qualitative study among university workers, Spain. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(3).
25. Jenkins K, Buchan J, Rhodes RE, Hamilton K. Workplace movement: a qualitative study on office workers’ beliefs. Aust J Psychol. 2024;76(1).
26. Landais LL, Jelsma JGM, Dotinga IR, Timmermans DRM, Verhagen EALM, Damman OC. Office workers’ perspectives on physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health. 2022;22:1-10.
27. İkiz H, Ergin E. Musculoskeletal system problems in office workers: relationship of physical activity levels and quality of life. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2022;29(1):321-8.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Public Health (Other) , Public Health Nursing , Primary Health Care

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sevda Emir ^*
0000-0002-8898-1987
Türkiye

Sebahat Gözüm
0000-0001-8672-8016
Türkiye

İlhan Günbayı
0000-0001-7139-0200
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 17, 2026

Submission Date

February 22, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: April, May, June 2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1895234

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA54ST75YJ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

EndNote

Emir S, Gözüm S, Günbayı İ (April 1, 2026) Perspectives of Office Workers on Physical Activity and Interventions to Increase Physical Activity: A Case Study. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 April, May, June 2026