Levels Of Occupational Activity Research Articles

Development of a rapid assessment tool for integrating thermal comfort in early design stage of energy-efficient office buildings

Comprehending and predicting energy performance of existing buildings and new constructions is crucial towards decarbonization. Instead of utilizing simulation software, multiple regression models are utilized to predict building energy consumption while ensuring indoor thermal comfort to speed up this process. However, previous predictive models prioritize reducing energy demand, with limited focus on thermal comfort. This study aims to support decision-making during retrofitting and new construction planning though developing a prediction model. An air-conditioned office building served as a reference building for simulation. 21 design parameters were analyzed, including aspects of weather, building envelope, internal loads, ventilation, and temperature settings. Stepwise regression results unveiled the crucial variables in the final model, with 8, 9, 13, and 6 variables remaining for peak cooling load, annual cooling load, overheating hours (WE), and Environmental Quality Index for thermal comfort (EQITC) in the perimeter zones, and 5, 6, 8, and 5 variables for the core zones, respectively. Furthermore, insights into the important variables regarding cooling load and thermal comfort were respectively provided. Weather- and envelope-related variables, such as cooling degree-days, global solar radiation, solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), and U-value, have the highest impacts on cooling load. For thermal comfort, variables including temperature setpoint, occupant activity level, and factors related to window sunlight transmission performance, such as SHGC, window area ratio, and overhang projection ratio, proved to be influential. Overall, this study provided accurate models for assessing optimal strategies for energy efficiency and thermal comfort during the early design phases, advancing building performance practices.

Chronic Stress Indicator: A Novel Tool for Comprehensive Stress Analysis.

Extensive research has highlighted the strong association between chronic stress and negative health outcomes. This relationship is influenced by various factors, including sociobehavioral, environmental, and genetic and epigenomic forces. To comprehensively assess an individual's stress levels, we propose the development of the Chronic Stress Indicator (CSI), a novel comprehensive multifaceted tool that incorporates key biological, anthropometric, behavioral, and socioeconomic factors. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the CSI compared to Allostatic Load (AL), a type of chronic stress, in identifying health issues related to stress. The objective of this research is to evaluate the performance of the Chronic Stress Indicator (CSI) versus Allostatic Load (AL) in detecting adverse health outcomes within the U.S. demographic aged 20-49. The information used for this study was sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), carried out from 2001 to 2004. Logistic regression modeling was employed to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was employed to assess differences in means, whereas the chi-square test, accompanied by Cramer's V statistic, was used to examine the association among categorical variables. Additionally, the relationship between continuous variables was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Our association tests show that the length of occupation activity and health status were among the strongest associations to CSI risk. Based on our logistic regression models, age and sex were found to be significant factors in determining AL. We also found that age, smoking, and longest occupation activity were significant factors of CSI risk. These findings suggest a need for individuals to limit smoking as it may lead to higher overall stress despite its common use as a coping mechanism for stress. We should also review the level of occupational activity a job has before continuously working on it as this may also lead to higher cumulative stress.

Occupational characteristics and disability-free survival after retirement age: an exploratory analysis from the ASPREE study.

Certain occupational characteristics have been linked with poor health and reduced longevity. However, the association between occupational characteristics and survival free of disability in a post-retirement age group has not been investigated. We investigated outcomes in 12,215 healthy older Australian adults in the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) and ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP) sub-study. The ISCO-88 major occupational groups, settings, and activity levels were assigned based on free-text job descriptions. The Finnish Job Exposure Matrix was used to assign occupational characteristics to the three longest-held jobs. The primary endpoint, disability-free survival, was defined as a composite measure of death, dementia, or persistent physical disability. The endpoint of all-cause mortality was analyzed separately. Because of multiple exploratory analyses, only those associations with a two-sided value of p less than 0.005 were considered statistically significant. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios. Having worked in an 'elementary' occupation was associated with a reduction in disability-free survival. A specific impact on disability-free survival was observed among those whose work had involved high accident risk and adverse social climate. No significant relationship was identified with those previously exposed to sedentary work, vigorous physical activity, work primarily outdoors, or a range of other occupational characteristics. All-cause mortality was not increased among any of the occupational groups. This exploratory study found a reduction in disability-free survival among people who worked in 'elementary' occupations, with specific risks associated with occupations involving high accident risks and adverse social climate.

The Importance of Spinopelvic Parameters in Recurrent Lumbar Disk Herniation.

Retrospective clinical study. We aimed to investigate preoperative spinopelvic mismatch as a risk factor for recurrent lumbar disk herniation (RLDH) in patients undergoing lumbar disk herniation (LDH) surgery. Spinopelvic parameters have been associated with lumbar degenerative diseases, particularly LDH. However, the relationship between these parameters and RLDH has yet to be studied. Data of 1453 patients aged ≥18 who underwent single-level, unilateral fenestration microdiscectomy for the first time in our hospital between 2013 and 2019 were reviewed. The study group comprised 88 patients who underwent surgery for RLDH. The control group comprised 101 randomly selected patients who underwent surgery for LDH but not RLDH. Age, sex, body mass index, occupational activity level, operative level, Roussouly classification type, and time to recurrence were recorded. Moreover, pelvic incidence, lumbar lordosis (LL), interverteberal disk height (IDH), segmental lordosis, sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral table angle (ST) were measured for each patient. Pelvic mismatch was calculated. Mean age was 46.5±11.4y (range, 20-70). Both groups were similar concerning age, sex, body mass index, occupational activity level, and level of surgery. The mean time to recurrence was 167.3±36.6d (range, 62-363). Measurements in the RLDH group were as follows: IDH=7.6±1.5mm, pelvic incidence =54.4°±10.1°, LL=47.3°±13°, segmental lordosis =9.3°±5°, SS=35.1°±9.9°, and PT=19.3°±7.3°. Mean IDH was significantly lower in the RLDH group ( P =0.02). Less LL and lower PT at L3-4 level and increased SS at L5-S1 level were considered risk factors for RLDH. This study showed that preoperative low IDH is at higher risk for RLDH in patients undergoing LDH surgery. LL, PT, and SS may be risk factors for specific levels.

The physical activity implications of retirement across occupational activity groups

Retirement is an important later life transition which may represent a critical period for physical activity in older age. Past findings on the association between retirement and physical activity are inconclusive and there is some evidence that the physical activity implications of retirement may differ by occupational activity level. This study used data from waves 4–9 (June 2008–July 2019) of the English Longitudinal Study on Aging to evaluate whether there is an association between retirement and physical activity, and whether this varies across occupational activity groups.Retirement was associated with a significant increase in physical activity (n = 10,693; β: 0.602 METhrs/wk. [95% CI: 0.490, 0.713], p < 0.001). There were significant interactions between retirement and past occupational activity level (n = 5109; X2 (3)=32.59, p < 0.001), such that people retiring from sedentary or standing occupations experienced a significant increase in physical activity with retirement but retirement from an occupation involving heavy manual labour was associated with a decrease in physical activity.This study quantified the importance of retirement for later life physical activity. With demographic aging, the population health importance of later life physical activity will likely become more important. These findings should inform the design of public health interventions to increase physical activity around the retirement transition.

0310 Sleep Health Characteristics in Sedentary Desk-Based Workers

Abstract Introduction Many occupations consist of predominantly desk-based work, which leads to prolonged periods of sitting during the workday. Excessive periods of sedentary behavior could have a negative impact on health outcomes, including sleep. The purpose of this study was to characterize sleep health in a sample of sedentary desk-based workers. Methods This secondary analysis of baseline data from an ongoing clinical trial included 125 inactive adults with elevated, nonmedicated blood pressure and desk-based occupations (49.6% female, age=43.9±10.6 y, 85.6% White race, body mass index [BMI]=30.9±6.4 kg/m²). Sleep was assessed using validated questionnaires (e.g., Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], Insomnia Severity Index [ISI]) and 7 nights of actigraphy. Six dimensions of sleep health (regularity, satisfaction, alertness, timing, efficiency, and duration) were categorized as “good” or “poor”; a composite score summed good sleep health dimensions on a scale of 0-6. Results The mean sleep health score was 4.7±1.1; 24.8% of participants met “good” criteria for all 6 sleep health dimensions. The most common “good” sleep health dimensions were efficiency (89.0%) and alertness (87.2%); the least common was regularity (60%). The mean PSQI score was 5.5±3.0, and 41.6% had poor sleep quality (PSQI &amp;gt;5); a trend was observed in adults with poor sleep quality to have lower sleep health (p=0.055). The mean ISI score was 7.1±4.7, and 40% had at least mild-severity insomnia symptoms (ISI ≥8); those with insomnia symptoms had significantly lower sleep health compared to those without insomnia symptoms (p=0.04). Sleep health was not significantly correlated with age, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, or mean daily sedentary behavior (each r≤ .08, p≥0.38) and did not differ between males and females (p=0.26). However, White adults had significantly better sleep health compared to their non-White counterparts (6.4% Black, 5.6% Asian, 2.4% other) (p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion This sample of sedentary desk-based workers presented generally good sleep health. This warrants future investigations comparing adults with different levels of occupational activity and non-desk-based occupations to understand why highly sedentary behavior is associated with negative health outcomes. Support (If Any) This study was funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants R01HL134809 and R01HL147610.

Minimizing the respiratory pathogen transmission: Numerical study and multi-objective optimization of ventilation systems in a classroom

Schools are recognized as high-risk spaces in airborne infectious disease transmission due to occupant density and activity level. Therefore, it is critical to conduct studies and provide proper solutions regarding the spread of airborne transmission diseases to the lowest possible in schools. In this study, the performance of five various ventilation systems regarding control the spread of airborne particles in a classroom were studied by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and then, the best case was selected with regard to the least probability of infection spread. These cases with various locations of inlet and outlet vents are considered, and the spread of particles is studied. A multi-objective optimization process is then performed to understand the effects of design variables, including air inlet width, air change per hour (ACH), and inlet air temperature on the thermal comfort conditions according to suggested standard values and relations for calculating each of these parameters based on the design variables are proposed. Desirability functions are used to determine the range of variables that result in thermally comfortable conditions and maximum desirability of 0.952 with a width of 0.130 m, temperature of 296.60 K, and value of ACH between 9.689 and 9.858 results is obtained.

Data driven occupancy information for energy simulation and energy use assessment in residential buildings

Occupant’s schedules and their energy-use behavior are substantial inputs for building energy simulations and energy management in buildings. In practice, most of the research studies consider default occupant schedules from the standards. Subsequently, the temporal variations associated with occupancy is often missed out, leading to uncertainties in simulation results. This study aims to address two research problems in terms of occupancy: 1) upon the availability of the data, how to systematically extract the different occupant schedules, 2) when the occupancy data is not available, what are the other commonly logged parameters (such as plug load, lighting energy consumption, indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, and indoor relative humidity data) that shall be used to represent the occupancy in buildings. Regarding the first objective, a generic data-driven framework with the combination of shape-based clustering and change-point detection method is proposed to extract the distinct occupancy in residential buildings in terms of occupant activity schedule and presence probability. To demonstrate the outcomes of the framework, it was applied to the dataset collected from eight apartments located in Lyon, France. The results show the existence of different occupant patterns in buildings with respect to day of the week and season of the year. To achieve the second objective, linear and logistic regression models were developed to represent the occupant activity level and occupant presence/absence state, respectively. The linear regression model results show that among the examined variables, the lighting, and plug load consumption data along with the hour of the day show better prediction results in terms of adjusted R2 and mean absolute percentage error. For the occupant presence/absence state, the logistic regression model developed using CO2 concentration and plug load energy consumption dataset shows better results in misclassification error, confusion matrix, and receiver operating characteristic curve.

Bidirectional associations between emergency nurses’ occupational and leisure physical activity: An observational study

ABSTRACT Emergency nursing is a physically demanding occupation yet research suggests they do not meet current physical activity guidelines. Current interventions have had limited effectiveness increasing nurses’ physical activity, possibly due to a failure to acknowledge physical activity in another domain (e.g., occupational). This study aimed to determine the bidirectional associations between emergency nurses’ occupational and leisure time activity levels on work days. Data from 49 emergency nurses (44 females and five males) wearing an ActiGraph accelerometer and completing work and sleep diaries for up to four weeks were analysed. An activPAL inclinometer was simultaneously worn by 41 nurses. Time spent in different activity levels and postural positions during work and leisure time were determined. Multi-level analyses examined bidirectional associations between emergency nurses’ activity levels at work and during their leisure time. Moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity prior to a morning shift was associated with more sedentary time and less physical activity at work. Conversely, occupational stepping time was associated with more sitting, standing and stepping time after each shift. These findings provide critical insights into how and when researchers should intervene to facilitate adequate recovery for nurses’ post-shift and balance competing demands on their leisure time.

Determinants of the Socio-Economic Situation of Living Standards in Areas Previously Occupied by State Farms in Poland: A Case Study

Purpose: The research objective was to diagnose the socio-economic situation in areas formerly occupied by a state-owned farm in Poland, using the Province of Warmia and Mazury as an example. Design/Methodology/Approach: Both a quantitative method and a qualitative one was employed. The research was conducted among residents of areas previously occupied by state-owned farms using a poll approach and a questionnaire designed by the research authors. Findings: A combination of factors, individual, cultural, and macrosocial ones, contributed to the situation when former state-owned agricultural farms in Poland are now an area where many negative, interconnected issues, such as unemployment, poverty, marginalization, lack of prospects and hope for the future, are concentrated. One of the major problems in these territories' labor market is the low occupational activity level among residents. Despite the high unemployment rate, nearly ¾ of the surveyed persons were not interested in improving their labor market position. Practical Implication: The practical implication arising from the research is the possibility of using the results in creating a regional policy in areas affected by the negative consequences of the operation and subsequent dissolution of state-owned agricultural farms. Originality/Value: It is still necessary to conduct studies in the areas formerly dominated by state farms in agriculture and search for new system-scale solutions, especially because the current interest in residents' situation in these areas is now waning. Rural areas, with their specific characteristics, for example, the occurrence of hidden unemployment, are distinguished by a large untapped human potential.

415 OCCUPATIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND THE RISK OF GORD, BARRETT’S OESOPHAGUS AND OESOPHAGEAL ADENOCARCINOMA A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY IN UK BIOBANK

Abstract Recreational physical activity has been shown to protect against the development of oesophageal adenocarcinoma as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD), but such effects have not been demonstrated for non-recreational activity. We examined whether high levels of occupational physical activity (heavy manual labour or physical work) were associated with the risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma as well as its sequential precursor diseases; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD), reflux oesophagitis and Barrett’s oesophagus. Methods In this population-based prospective cohort study, participants aged between 37 to 73 years were recruited from 22 regions across the United Kingdom. Baseline occupational information of job type and levels of heavy manual activity was assessed using both questionnaires and verbal interviews. Incident cases were identified by linkage with routinely collected hospital inpatient and cancer registry data for England, Scotland and Wales. Primary clinical outcomes were GORD without oesophagitis, GORD with oesophagitis (reflux oesophagitis), Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The effects of heavy manual activity on disease risk were estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression. Results Between 2006 and 2010, 502 524 men and women were enrolled. Main analyses were limited to the working population with a full set of variables of interest (n = 266 453). Compared to jobs with low levels of heavy manual activity, high level jobs had increased hazard ratios (HRs) for GORD (1.20, 95% CI 1.11–1.30), reflux oesophagitis (1.17, 95% CI 1.04–1.31) and Barrett’s oesophagus (1.13, 95% CI 0.98–1.32), but not oesophageal adenocarcinoma (0.91 95% CI 0.54–1.56). Conclusion High levels of occupational heavy manual activity could be used as a risk factor for GORD and reflux oesophagitis, the precursor diseases of Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Operationalisation Of Older Adults’ Lifetime Physical Activity Data

Despite the broad knowledge about general positive health effects of regular exercise, physical activity recommendations are mostly not fulfilled. Accompanying our ageing society, research often focuses on health status and activity habits at older age. Here, knowledge about triggers on and effects of very long-term physical activity (PA) is needed. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship of PA during the lifespan and at old age. METHODS: Overall 47 nursing home residents (n = 47) aged 81.7 ± 3.6 years partcipated. The Lifetime Leisure Physical Activity Questionnaire (LLPAQ) and accelerometers (4 out of 7 days; MyWellnessKey ©) were used. LLPAQ captured lifetime leisure, housekeeping and occupational activity levels across 7 lifetime episodes. The LLPAQ retest data was gained from a subcohort (n = 14) six weeks after the first elicitation. Individual questionnaire and accelerometer data was converted to METs (Metabolic equivalent of task) and used for further data analysis. Individual estimation inaccuracies were computed as the ratio of self-reported to objectively measured current PA. RESULTS: A linear association between accelerometer and LLPAQ data (r = .31, p = .033) for last year’s PA was found. Test-retest reliability (ICC) was .7 (CV = 118%, SEM = 6.8, / 63.7%). Internal consistency was (Cronbachs α) 0.8. The average inaccuracy (overestimation) in self-reported data was 176 % (CI-95% 120-232%). Adjusted for individual innaccuracy, PA at old age significantly correlated with three age episodes (r = .354; r = .336; r = .323; p < .05). Likewise, innaccuracy-adjusted self-report data was sufficient to distinguish between individuals grouped as inactive or active (PA guidelines) in lifetime and current PA (Hotelling’s t2 = 45-164; p ≤ .002). CONCLUSIONS: The observed inaccuracy (overestimation) in self-reported data aligns with findings in the literature (Sallis & Saelens, 2000; Tucker et al., 2011). The findings in individually processed data indicate a relationship of lifetime and old age PA. Future studies might enhance the applicability of methods for self-report PA data handling. Valid lifetime PA data might enhance further research on the relationship of old age PA and disease occurrence.

Effects of a patient-centered program including the cumulative-complexity model in women with chronic pelvic pain: a randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects of a patient-centered intervention including the cumulative-complexity model on quality of life related to health, coping behaviors, pain, self-perceived occupational performance and activity levels. Study designRandomized controlled trial. Forty-four women with a clinical diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain were randomized into two groups. Patients in the experimental group (n = 22) were included in a patient-centered intervention that involved relevant activities proposed by participants. Patients in the control group (n = 22) received a leaflet with information about chronic pelvic pain, physical activity, fear of movement, false beliefs, active lifestyle and behavioral advice. Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome measures were health-related quality of life assessed with the EuroQol-5D and coping behavior using the Coping Strategies Questionnaires. Secondary outcomes included severity of pain using a Visual Analogue Scale, self-perception of occupational performance using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and physical activity levels assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. ResultsAn analysis of variance with repeated measures showed, in the experimental group compared with the control group, significantly greater improvement from baseline to post-intervention in health-related quality of life (EuroQol-5D Visual Analog Scale values of 70.06 ± 16.44 vs. 57.38 ± 16.40, p = 0.026) and coping behavior (adaptive coping 113.00 ± 31.89 vs. 83.24 ± 16.69, p = 0.002). Pain, self-perception of performance and physical activity levels also significantly improved. ConclusionsA patient-centered intervention considering the workload of patients and their capacity for performing health behaviors provides benefits regarding quality of life and coping behavior. Additionally, pain, self-perceived performance of relevant tasks and physical activity levels improved.

Self-Reported Oral Health Knowledge and Practices During Pregnancy and Their Social Determinants in Poland.

To determine the effects of sociodemographic and pregnancy-related factors on oral health attitudes during pregnancy, as well as the main predictors of proper oral practices. An electronic survey consisting of 47 (single or multiple-choice) questions was conducted in women up to 3 years after childbirth in 2017. Sociodemographic data, as well as information on the course of pregnancy and delivery, oral knowledge and basic behaviours during pregnancy were collected. The Chi-square test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. Odds ratios were determined. A statistical significance level of 0.05 was used. A total of 2480 questionnaires completed by women aged between 13 and 45 years who were up to 3 years after delivery, were analysed. Correct answers to all questions regarding basic oral health and oral practices were obtained by 20.8% and 19.6% of respondents, respectively. Proper health behaviours were more strongly correlated with the level of knowledge (r = 0.155; odds ratio (OR) = 2.44; CI:1.93-3.07; p <0.001) and the use of dental care before pregnancy (r = 0.187; OR = 2.88; CI:2.29-3.63; p <0.001) rather than age (r = 0.144), good or very good financial status (r = 0.110), high level of education (r = 0.081), urban residence (r = 0.058) or occupational activity (r = 0.049). Attending dental visits depended on the conviction about their safety (r = 0.195; OR = 2.47; CI: 2.09-2.93; p <0.001) as well as gynaecologist's referral in the case of general conditions in pregnancy (r = 0.052) and the risk of premature birth (r = 0.053). No effects of other parameters associated with pregnancy or delivery were confirmed. Health attitudes during pregnancy are modified by sociodemographic factors. The main predictors of proper health behaviours include high level of knowledge on oral health and the use of dental care before conception. Furthermore, dental attendance among pregnant women depends on the awareness of the safety of dental visits and a gynaecologist referral in case of general condition and risk of premature birth.

Diagnosing the Reasons for Economic Inactivity in the Polish Population

Summary Subject and purpose of work: This paper deals with the issues of occupational activation of economically inactive persons. Its objective is to provide the reader with an outline of labour market problems and the situation of the economically inactive population*. Persons who qualify neither as employed or as unemployed potentially constitute an untapped labour potential. The focus in this paper is on economically inactive persons and the reasons they do not seek employment, in order to better understand, first, the causes behind such a low occupational activity and, second, the possible remedial measures. In view of the urgent need for reintegrating persons outside the labour force with the labour market, it appears of utmost importance to identify the reasons for their situation. The fact that nearly 5.02 million working-age Poles remain economically inactive (accounting for nearly 22.0% of the whole working-age population) indicates how huge their potential may be. Special attention will be paid to groups of potential workers who have barely marked their presence on the labour market. One such group is formed by over 2.35 million individuals who are outside the labour market for reasons unrelated to health or retirement age. Materials and methods: The analysis is based on the annual and quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS) data provided by Statistics Poland, and data originating from the Local Data Bank. To facilitate a wider discussion, the statistical data presented in the article cover a multi-annual perspective. This information is supplemented with research results obtained by other authors. Use is made of different methods of data analysis, including a descriptive analysis – to determine the underlying figures regarding the number of economically inactive persons; a dynamics analysis – to identify changes that occurred in 2006-2019 in the figures determined in the descriptive analysis; and a comparative analysis – to assess trends regarding economically inactive persons by comparing selected data with those that have been recently recorded in other EU countries. Results: The scale of economic inactivity in 2016-2019 is assessed on the basis of statistical data presented in tables and figures regarding economically inactive persons by the most common reason for inactivity. The analytical part of this paper features thematic blocks/detailed analyses of the demographic situation, the level and breakdown of economically inactive persons, and changes in their numbers that have taken place in recent years. Conclusions: The constantly declining working-age population, coupled with the low level of occupational activity in some age groups, should encourage decision-makers to design adequate labour market policies/programmes to support the occupational activity of Poles. Labour supply improvements should be sought mainly through the occupational activation of economically inactive persons and through extending the period of occupational activity.

Predictors of clinically important improvements in occupational and quality of life outcomes among mental health service users after completion and follow-up of a lifestyle intervention: multiple regression modelling based on longitudinal data

BackgroundBalancing Everyday Life (BEL) is a new activity-based lifestyle intervention for mental health service users. An earlier study found BEL to be effective in increasing occupational engagement, occupational balance, activity level, and quality of life scores when compared with a care-as-usual group. However, it is unclear whether care context and socio-demographic, clinical and self-related factors at baseline also influence the results. Thus, the aim of the current study was to explore whether such factors could predict clinically important improvements in occupational and quality of life aspects.MethodsParticipants were interviewed and filled out self-report questionnaires before starting the 16-week intervention (n = 133), upon completion (n = 100), and 6 months following (n = 89). Bi-variate and multi-variate statistical analyses were performed.ResultsSeveral baseline factors were associated with clinically important improvements, but few predictors were found in the multivariate analyses. Having children was found to be a predictor of improvement in occupational engagement at BEL completion, but reduced the chance of belonging to the group with clinically important improvement in activity level at follow-up. Regarding occupational balance, having a close friend predicted belonging to the group with clinically important improvement in the leisure domain. At BEL completion, other predictors for improvements were female gender for the self-care domain, and self-esteem for the home chores domain. At follow-up, psychosocial functioning and lower education level predicted general balance. None of the factors explored in this study were found to be predictors for improvements in quality of life.ConclusionsFew of the studied care context, socio-demographic, clinical and self-related factors were found to predict clinically important improvements in occupational engagement, activity level, occupational balance, or QOL. This study, together with previous studies showing positive results, suggests that BEL can be an appropriate intervention in both community and clinical settings, and can support improvement in occupational aspects and QOL for participants with diverse socio-demographic, clinical, and self-related characteristics.Trial registrationThis study is part of a larger research project that is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. Reg. No. NCT02619318.

Part-time Work and the Workers’ Age and Sex

The goal of the paper is to present spatial diversity in the use of flexible forms of employment with special emphasis on part-time work among women and men aged 50+ in the European Union. Demographic changes, including the ageing of the EU population, show the necessity of rationally utilizing available labour resources. Because the level of occupational activity is declining with age, while the share of people aged 50+ in the population is growing, the possibility of doing parttime work that allows reconciliation between occupational life and non-occupational life seems important. This form of employment can also constitute an important transitional stage between occupational activity and retirement. The analyses presented in the paper are based on data from Eurostat and include the years between 2003 and 2017. The conducted studies show significantdifferences in the utilization of part-time work in EU countries especially when age and gender are taken into consideration.

The relationship between occupational physical activity and self-reported vs measured total physical activity.

IntroductionDespite the well-established benefits of physical activity (PA), a large portion of U.S. adults are not meeting recommended health-based guidelines. Although PA occurs in several domains, population-based studies tend to focus on leisure-time PA, with few studies examining occupational activity (OA) level as a separate determinant of overall PA.MethodsData were obtained from the 2014–2016 Survey of Health of Wisconsin (SHOW). Currently employed SHOW participants (n = 822) were categorized into OA level categories. Bivariate analyses and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors and to test associations between OA and odds of meeting total PA guidelines using both self-reported and accelerometer-based data.ResultsIndividuals with high OA level jobs tended to be males (p < 0.01), current smokers (p < 0.01), and have low education (p < 0.01). When measured by self-report, a greater proportion of individuals in high OA jobs (89%) met the physical activity guidelines compared to those in medium (78%) and low (76%) OA jobs (p = 0.01). Further, adjusted odds of doing some PA vs meeting PA guidelines were higher for low OA vs. high OA level (OR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.46–3.94, p < 0.01). This trend was not observed when PA was measured via accelerometer (OR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.62–1.60, p = 0.99).ConclusionsCorrelations between low, intermediate, and high OA and levels of overall PA varied by measurement type. Further research is needed to improve PA measurements within subdomains such as OA and to examine the tradeoffs between OA and leisure-time PA and relationships with health.

Occupational Physical Activity Opposes Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Modern Replication of the Morris 1953 London Busmen Study.

Examine the importance of occupational light-intensity physical activity (PA) and short bouts of moderate-vigorous PA (LSBPA), to opposing obesity, including an approximate replication of the London busmen study comparing waist circumference of workers with high versus low levels of occupational activity. Working adults wore an accelerometer, completed anthropometric measurements, and provided work schedules. Participants' (n = 435) activity was classified as either occupational or non-occupational minutes, and by intensity. Body fat percentage was inversely associated with occupational-LSBPA in participants who did not meet PA guidelines, but not in those who met guidelines. In the London busmen replication, more active workers had smaller waist circumferences than sedentary workers, controlling for non-occupational activity. Work-related LSBPA may be an important and under-recognized source of PA that opposes adiposity for people who do not meet PA guidelines.

Physical activity during early pregnancy and antenatal depression: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundDespite the known health benefits of physical activity, its impact on depression during pregnancy remains inconclusive, especially in Asian populations. A large prospective cohort study was conducted to ascertain the association between total and domain-specific physical activity during early pregnancy and antenatal depression in Chinese women. MethodsInformation was collected prospectively from a cohort of 1440 pregnant women in Chengdu, Western China. Habitual physical activities (total, domain-specific and intensity level) were measured by the validated Chinese version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire during the first trimester. Antenatal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 32–37 weeks of gestation. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were undertaken, modelling EPDS as both continuous score and binary variable, respectively. ResultsOverall, the mean EPDS score was 9.3 (SD 3.7) and the prevalence of antenatal depression (EPDS ≥13) was 17.5% (n = 252). The mean total physical activity was 149.1 (SD 84.2) MET-hours/week. A high level of occupational activity (>73 MET-hours/week) was associated with a reduced risk of antenatal depression (odds ratio 0.57; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.94). A similar inverse association was evident for the continuous EPDS score. However, no apparent associations with EPDS were observed for total, other domains and intensities of physical activity exposures. LimitationsLack of information on history of major depression. Use of self-reported questionnaires instead of objective measures of physical activity and clinical diagnosis of antenatal depression. ConclusionsBeing active at work during early pregnancy may reduce antenatal depressive symptoms for Chinese women.