Effects of a Worksite Group Intervention to Promote Physical Activity and Health: The Role of Psychological Coaching. Issue 3 (18th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Krebs, Simone; Baaken, Anke; Wurst, Ramona; Goehner, Wiebke; Fuchs, Reinhard
• Is Part Of: Applied psychology. Volume 11:Issue 3(2019:Nov.)
• Page Start: 584
• Page End: 605
• Publication Date: 2019-06-18
• Subjects: health status -- intervention program -- physical exercise -- psychological coaching -- workplace; Psychology, Applied -- Periodicals; Well-being -- Periodicals; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; Health -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Psychology, Applied -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Psychologie appliquée -- Périodiques; Bien-être -- Périodiques; 616.0019
• DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12170
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-0846

Abstract

Abstract : Background: This study investigates whether a worksite physical activity (PA) promotion program consisting of both a "practical" PA component and a "theoretical" (psychological) coaching component (PA+C) is more effective than the same "practical" PA component alone. Methods: N = 213 employees were assigned to two groups by cluster‐randomisation: one group received the "MoVo‐work" program including a PA component and a coaching component (PA+C group). The other group received only the PA component (PA group). Assessment of PA and health was conducted at five time points. Results: Six weeks after program completion the percentage of physically active participants was significantly higher in the PA+C group compared to the PA group (68% vs. 45%; p = .01). At 12‐month follow‐up, the PA+C group showed a higher percentage of physically active participants and a better health status than the PA group on the descriptive level, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Results suggest that a PA promotion program including a psychological coaching component is more effective in evoking behavior change than a practical PA program alone. However, booster interventions are required to maintain the additional effects.