Physical Activity Participation and Psychological Wellbeing in University Office Workers in China and Australia: An Online Survey

Abstract

Background and purpose: Physical inactivity and prolonged sitting have associations with adverse health. University office workers are at a high risk of psychological and pain issues. This study aimed to explore the differences in sitting time, levels of physical activity participation, stress, depression, anxiety, and pain among university office workers in China and Australia. Methods: Online surveys were distributed to university office workers over 55 years at two universities in China and Australia, respectively. Results: A total of 185 participants completed the online survey (119 in China and 66 in Australia). Significant differences were found in sitting time during workdays between the two countries (p < 0.05) with a longer sitting time in the Australian respondents (7.5 h/day) than those in China (4.6 h/day). Additionally, there were also significant differences in terms of levels of depression and pain symptoms within the two countries (p < 0.05). The Australian respondents reported high levels of depression and pain (M = 7.38, SD = 5.86 and M = 3.65, SD = 2.21, respectively) than those in China (M = 5.71, SD = 4.87 and M = 1.89, SD = 1.89, respectively). The gender, education level, and sitting time of participants were found to be associated with pain scores (p < 0.05). A significant association between marital status and pain scores was found among the Australian respondents (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Future studies with a larger population are needed to validate the results and to further explore the association between physical activity participation and psychological wellbeing among university office workers.

A Latent Profile Analysis of PERMA: Associations with Physical Activity and Psychological Distress among Chinese Nursing College Students

“…This study also found that the average sitting time of college students was more than 6 h per day during workdays. Similar prolonged sedentary sitting time was also found in individuals in the university workplaces [ 28 , 29 ]. Previous studies have indicated that insufficient physical activity participation has the potential to decrease academic engagement and behavior among college students, and prolonged sitting time is also associated with high levels of psychological distress [ 30 , 31 ].…”

Anxiety Status of Female Chinese Ph.D. Candidates and Its Association with Sports

“…Some of the female Chinese Ph.D. candidates in negative emotional states are unwilling to participate in sports, and their anxiety level is high. Research has shown that participating in projects and publishing papers occupy most of a Ph.D. candidates’ daily life and are the main pressure during their learning career [ 1 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Therefore, female Chinese Ph.D. candidates’ lack of sports and unwillingness to spend time participating in sports may be related to their pressing learning task.…”