Version 1
: Received: 5 January 2024 / Approved: 5 January 2024 / Online: 5 January 2024 (07:13:04 CET)
How to cite:
Powell, J.; Conlon, J.; Chivers, P.; Cripps, A. Training Smart; Exploring the Impact of a University Staff Fitness Program on Employee Productivity and Cognition. Preprints2024, 2024010467. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.0467.v1
Powell, J.; Conlon, J.; Chivers, P.; Cripps, A. Training Smart; Exploring the Impact of a University Staff Fitness Program on Employee Productivity and Cognition. Preprints 2024, 2024010467. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.0467.v1
Powell, J.; Conlon, J.; Chivers, P.; Cripps, A. Training Smart; Exploring the Impact of a University Staff Fitness Program on Employee Productivity and Cognition. Preprints2024, 2024010467. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.0467.v1
APA Style
Powell, J., Conlon, J., Chivers, P., & Cripps, A. (2024). Training Smart; Exploring the Impact of a University Staff Fitness Program on Employee Productivity and Cognition. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.0467.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Powell, J., Paola Chivers and Ashley Cripps. 2024 "Training Smart; Exploring the Impact of a University Staff Fitness Program on Employee Productivity and Cognition" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.0467.v1
Abstract
Workplace exercise programs are imperative for improving employee health and wellbeing. Employee cognition and productivity can also benefit from such programs; however, the practical application of interventions to influence these outcomes is poorly understood. This research aimed to assess the suitability of a university Staff Fitness Program for improving employee productivity and cognition. Forty-seven participants were included in the study, comprising 27 Staff Fitness participants and 20 control group participants. A two (groups) x three (time-points) between-subjects/within-subjects design was employed over 14 weeks, comprising ten weeks of once-weekly exercise intervention for Staff Fitness participants. All participants completed the Victoria Stroop Colour and Word Test and the Health and Work Questionnaire at each time-point, to assess cognition and productivity, respectively. Participants also completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form) at time-point one, three and during training weeks (excluding week one) to measure physical activity. Appropriate T-tests and non-parametric equivalents were used to assess group differences in outcome measures and across time-points. There were no significant between group or longitudinal differences indicative of improved productivity or cognition. The Staff Fitness group demonstrated a non-significant improvement (Z = 73.00, p = .055) in physical activity from time-point one (M = 1540.93 MET-min-week, SD = 1083.74) to three (M = 2077.32 MET-min-week, SD = 1401.48) with a large effect size (d = 0.97), while control group physical activity significantly decreased (Z = 10.00, p = .013). The present Staff Fitness Program benefited employees by improving physical activity, despite no improvements in productivity or cognition. Future research should further explore the application of workplace exercise programs and the manipulation of exercise parameters to show improvements in employee productivity and cognition.
Keywords
Cognition; productivity; employee health and wellbeing; exercise; workplace exercise program
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
