In this paper, the question is asked whether the time of day of physical activity in the form of walking or otherwise during a typical workweek influences peoples responses to cognitive and psychological scales differently?
To get to the bottom of this question, an observational study was conducted with six participants (n = 6). The participants work full-time from Monday to Friday and were sent a questionnaire to their test smartphone at 8pm every day. The questionnaire contains different scales to measure three different dependent variables: well-being in the form of the MDMQ scale (Wilhelm and Schoebi 2007) - work engagement in the form of the UWES scale (Schaufeli et al. 2019) - attention vigilance in the form of the cognitive SART (Manly and Robertson 2005). It was found that subjective well-being increased significantly (.025) when participants were active at that day.
The rest of the paper is structured as follows. In part two, the theoretical foundations and literature on well-being and physical activity are presented. The hypothesis derived from the literature is stated and elaborated. In part three, the methodology underlying the study is explained in detail. In addition, the results of the well-being dimension are presented. In part four, the methodology of the study is discussed. Within part four, limitations of the study are presented and an outlook on possible future research areas is given.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Theoretical Foundations
2.1 Subjective well-being
2.2 Physical activity
2.3 Relationship of physical activity and well-being
3 Methods
3.1 Results
4 Discussion
Research Objectives and Themes
The study examines whether the timing of physical activity during a typical workweek leads to different responses in cognitive and psychological scales among full-time employees, aiming to bridge a research gap regarding the impact of activity timing on well-being.
- Impact of physical activity on subjective well-being and stress reduction.
- Analysis of activity timing during the workweek (pre-work, during work, post-work).
- Measurement of work engagement, attention vigilance, and mood-related psychological scales.
- Evaluation of observational data from full-time employees in sedentary positions.
- Significance of integrating preventive physical activity into daily routines.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Subjective well-being
The dimension of well-being is a very complex field of research and depends on the subjective perception of an individual. Different people assess their personal state very differently, which therefore makes it hard to bring the concept of well-being down to a common level. Most scientists define subjective well-being as the feeling of a high level of positive affect, a feeling of as little negative affect as possible, and an individual's satisfaction with his or her own life (Deci and Ryan 2008). The concepts of subjective well-being and happiness are strongly correlated - research suggests that maximizing subjective well-being also maximizes a person's sense of happiness (Deci and Ryan 2008).
In order to approach the complex concept of well-being, we must also make a distinction between emotion and mood. Moods influence our behavior only subtly and cannot be assigned to a specific trigger or event - the intensity of moods can be classified as low to medium and they can last from hours to a few days (Wilhelm and Schoebi 2007). In contrast to that, "most researchers would agree that emotions are short-term reactions to events or stimuli that manifest themselves in different subsystems of the organism (expression and behavior, physiology, subjective experience, and cognitions)" (Wilhelm and Schoebi 2007, 259).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the research context, highlighting the positive influence of physical activity on well-being and identifying the lack of research regarding the time of day when these activities are performed.
2 Theoretical Foundations: Provides an overview of subjective well-being, defines physical activity in terms of leisure and work, and explores the established relationship between physical activity and health.
3 Methods: Details the observational study design, participant demographics, and the use of the MDMQ scale, SART, and UWES to measure well-being, engagement, and vigilance.
3.1 Results: Presents the primary findings, demonstrating a significant improvement in well-being among active participants, while reporting that the hypothesis regarding the timing of the day was rejected.
4 Discussion: Interprets the findings within the context of the study's limitations, such as sample size and the absence of pre-work activity, while emphasizing the professional importance of promoting physical activity.
Keywords
Physical activity, well-being, subjective well-being, exercise timing, mental health, MDMQ scale, work engagement, SART, observational study, sedentary work, stress reduction, health benefits, lifestyle, psychology, movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper investigates the influence of physical activity on cognitive and psychological health, specifically examining whether the time of day during which physical activity occurs has a differential impact on an individual's well-being.
What are the primary thematic fields involved?
The work integrates themes of sports science, organizational psychology, and health studies to evaluate how lifestyle habits, specifically exercise, interact with work-life balance.
What is the main objective or research question?
The study aims to determine if the timing of physical activity (before, during, or after work) significantly influences psychological responses and well-being in full-time employees working in sedentary positions.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The authors conducted an observational study with six full-time employees, using daily smartphone-based questionnaires over a two-week period to track physical activity and psychological variables.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main sections cover the theoretical background of well-being, the definitions and categories of physical activity, the research design and method, result statistics, and a critical discussion of the outcomes.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include physical activity, subjective well-being, observational study, work engagement, and stress reduction.
How does the MDMQ scale contribute to the study's findings?
The MDMQ scale was used to measure three specific dimensions of mood—valence, energetic arousal, and calmness—to quantify the subjective improvement in well-being reported by participants.
Why was the initial hypothesis regarding the timing of physical activity rejected?
The hypothesis was rejected because the data showed no statistically significant difference in well-being outcomes based on the time of day the activity was performed, partly because participants did not engage in physical activity during working hours.
What are the implications for companies mentioned by the author?
The author suggests that because physical activity is proven to improve well-being, companies should implement preventive health measures to improve employee health, potentially reducing sick leave and associated costs.
- Citar trabajo
- Alexander Mai (Autor), 2022, Work & Walk. Effects of the activity schedule on cognitive and psychological scales, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1297686
