Effects of Physical Activity and Counselling Interventions on Health Outcomes among Working Women in Shanghai

Abstract

Working women in Shanghai are a high-risk group of suffering work stress and burnout. Women have been found to be affected by work-family conflicts, which results in lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL), higher job stress, and burnout. This study evaluated the potential physical activity and counselling intervention effects on health outcomes of working women in Shanghai. Participants were randomly recruited from eight communities of Shanghai using the stratified cluster sampling method. A total of 121 female workers took part in this study, who were randomly divided into three groups: a control group and two intervention groups (individual-based and group-based intervention). The first intervention involved a moderate physical activity program and an individual based counselling intervention, while the second included the same physical activity program, but with a group counselling approach. Both interventions lasted 12 weeks. Subjective perceptions of work stress, burnout, and HRQoL were measured before and after the intervention. In the control group, the HRQoL value decreased after the intervention, with the mean value falling from 91.59 to 87.10, while there was no significant difference found between participants for stress (p = 0.752) and burnout (p = 0.622) before and after the intervention. After the intervention, the value of stress and burnout decreased, and the value of HRQoL increased in the two intervention groups. At the intervention’s completion, there were significant differences compared between the two intervention groups and the control group separately regarding changes in burnout and HRQoL (all p = 0.000). For stress, the group-based intervention group exhibited a significant difference compared to the control group (p = 0.000), while the individual-based intervention group did not (p = 0.128). A Physical activity and counselling intervention delivered either in a group or individual format could reduce stress, burnout, and improve HRQoL of working women in Shanghai, and the group interventions were potentially more effective than those targeted at individuals.

The Effects of Physical Activity on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Working Mothers Living in Amman: A Correlational Study

“…23 Contrary to this study's results, a study in China suggested that improving social relationships could be accomplished more effectively with group-based physical activity and counseling interventions. 4 likewise, another study revealed the existence of positive correlations between the physical, psychological, social, and Environmental domains of quality of life among the working-age population. 24 Moreover, the findings of this study suggest that physical activity adherence aims to improve women's health-related quality of life to cope with stress from home and work and prevent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).…”

“…2 Furthermore, a robust empirically based study among Chinese working women revealed that physical activity intervention could reduce stress and burnout and enhance health-related quality of life. 4 Findings demonstrated significant differences between the two groups related to their quality of life, suggesting that active mothers are more likely to have better physical and psychological domains and overall quality of life. This is consistent with the majority of intervention studies that are effective in improving health-related outcomes for working women.…”

“…Compared to the no-exercise controls, they also significantly improved their overall health-related quality of life scores. 4 In Spain, a 16-week supervised aerobic exercise intervention program for overweight adults with hypertension increased self-reported physical activity, decreased sedentary behavior, and improved sleep quality. The results of this study demonstrate the necessity of a regular, scheduled, and supervised physical activity program to encourage healthy behaviors in individuals with HTN and obesity.…”

“…3 Fulfilling multiple roles can contribute to lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL), higher job stress, anxiety, and burnout among this population. 4 The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends engaging in physical activity for at least 150-300 minutes each week at a moderate to vigorous intensity, or 75-150 minutes at a moderate to vigorous intensity, or an equivalent combination of the two. 5 The most recent global prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults was 23.3% in 2010 and 27.5% in 2016, and women showed lower physical activity levels than men.…”

Perception of Local Participants during Samosir Ultra Marathon 10 Kilometers Championship

“…People will be more excited when doing sports with friends, trainers or family supported by a comfortable atmosphere so that exercise performance will increase. A Physical activity and counseling intervention delivered either in a group or individual format could reduce stress and burnout, and improve HRQoL of working [12]. It is related to the low hardy personality group, which means that they have less adaptation to the demands of the sports environment [13].…”