Ping pong for health: the meaning of space in a sport based health intervention at the workplace

Abstract

Purpose: This is a study on a sport-based intervention, with a focus on physical activity, social relations, and learning, to promote health and well-being in the workplace lived space. Lived space is situated and associated with social and cultural conventions which affect the quality of the perceived space at work. The aim of the paper is to elucidate the participant's experiences of the intervention and how health and well-being were affected. Methods: The intervention was conducted with employees from the warehouse of a company within the retail sector. The design consisted of one initial workshop as a baseline, a sport-based intervention, three group interviews, and a final workshop. A hermeneutic phenomenological analysis focused on experiences of the intervention and the meaning of the workplace as the lived space. Results: Three themes emerged in the analysis; Expressing positive individual effects, Expressing improved work environment and The meaning of the workplace as lived space. The themes are discussed in relation to three basic health foci: physical activity, social relations and learning. Conclusion: The workplace as a lived space offers a valuable opportunity for sport-based interventions that improve health and well-being through physical activity, social relations, and learning.