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Thesis Format

Integrated Article

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Kinesiology

Supervisor

Prapavessis, Harry

2nd Supervisor

Gardiner, Paul. A

Co-Supervisor

Abstract

High amounts of total and prolonged sedentary behaviour (SB) are detrimental to both short and long-term health. SB describes any waking behaviour performed in a seated, lying, or reclining posture at a low energy expenditure. While the average Canadian spends over 9.5 hours sedentary per day, high-risk populations such as university students and office workers report up to 14 hours per day. Interventions targeting these at-risk populations are needed. This dissertation aimed to build and contribute to the knowledge surrounding theory-based interventions and measurement amongst these high-risk populations. First, in a randomized controlled trial (study 1), we evaluated the effectiveness of a Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) based intervention, augmented with text messages to reduce student- related sitting, and showed a significant reduction in student-related sitting time for the intervention group compared to the controls. Next, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many office working adults were quickly transitioned from working in-office to working from home. Since this population has been shown to be at an even higher risk for more sedentary time, we took immediate action. Building from study 1, study 2 investigated whether augmenting the HAPA intervention with choice architecture principles grounded in behavior economics (i.e., the ability to choose or not) will affect SB break frequency (BF) in adults working from home. Interestingly, results measured with a device versus self-report were different. With the device, BF improved over the intervention period, but was no different between choice vs. nonchoice groups. With self-report, the group that was able to choose demonstrated more favourable BF patterns compared to the group that did not get to choose. Finally, since working from home has become a permanent switch for most, it is imperative to validate an appropriate self-report measure to assess sitting patterns in this setting. Thus, studies 3A and 3B are secondary analyses of the data in study 2 and aimed to validate the occupational sitting and physical activity questionnaire (OSPAQ-study 3A) and the modified 7-day Sit questionnaire (SITQ-7d-study 3B) against an activPAL4TM in full-time home-based ‘office’ workers, respectively. The findings suggest that the OSPAQ is an easily administered and valid questionnaire to measure group level total sitting while the SITQ-7d requires further validation before confidently recommending this self-report tool for assessing BF. Implications of these intervention and measurement studies are discussed.

Summary for Lay Audience

Sitting for most of the day and for long periods at a time (i.e., 30+ minutes without getting up) has immediate and long-term negative health effects. The average Canadian spends over 9.5 hours of their day sitting and this number is even higher (~14 hours per day) in populations that tend to sit for their occupation (i.e., office workers, university students). Since these populations are at a higher risk, interventions are needed to try and reduce and break up sitting time. This dissertation aimed to build and add to the knowledge surrounding theory-based interventions and measurement amongst these high-risk populations. First, in a randomized controlled trial (study 1), we were able to reduce sitting time in university students with a counselling session (giving them the knowledge and tools to form plans to reduce their sitting time) followed by daily text messages. Next, in response to the COVID- 19 pandemic, many office working adults were quickly transitioned from working at the office to working from home. Since this at-home office working population is even higher risk for more sitting time, we took immediate action. Building from study 1, study 2 condensed the counselling session into a 3-minute educational video and explored whether supplementing it with the ability to choose or not (instead of the text-messages) would impact breaks from sitting in adults working from home. Interestingly, our findings differed depending on whether sitting breaks were measured with a device or self-reported via questionnaire. With the device, sitting breaks improved, but was no different between groups that got to choose or not. With self-report, the group that got to choose resulted in a better sitting profile. Finally, since working from home has become a permanent switch for most, it is essential to validate an appropriate self-report measure to capture sitting patterns in this setting. Thus, study 3A and 3B aimed to validate the sitting questionnaires that were used in study 2. The first questionnaire focused on measuring total sitting, standing, and moving time. Results indicated that it is a valid questionnaire to capture sitting and standing time in home-based office workers. The second questionnaire focused on sitting breaks and sitting break duration. Results indicated that this questionnaire requires further validation before confidently recommending this self-report tool in this population.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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