Perceived workplace layout design and work-related physical activity and sitting time

The workplace spatial environment has been identified as one of the correlates of workers' active and sedentary behaviours. This study examined the associations of perceived workplace layout design with workers' active and sedentary behaviour in office workers in Japan. Participants in this study (n = 2,265) were recruited from a nationwide online survey conducted in 2019. They completed a questionnaire that assessed work-related physical activity and sedentary time. Self-reported workplace layout measures including local connectivity, overall connectivity, visibility of co-workers, and proximity of co-workers were calculated using the Office Environment and Sitting Scale questionnaire. A two-stage regression model was used for modelling physical activity and sedentary time. After adjusting all covariates, participation in work-related physical activity was positively associated with local and overall connectivity (OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.28, 2.12, and OR = 1.37 95% CI 1.07, 1.74, respectively) in open-plan offices. However, the visibility and proximity of co-workers were positively associated with any work-related sedentary time in shared and open-plan offices. There was also a positive association between participation in work-related physical activity and local connectivity in shared offices (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.30, 2.72). For those participants reporting participation in work-related physical activity, there was a significant positive association between work-related physical activity and local connectivity in open-plan offices (b = 11.28 min/day, 95% CI 2.04, 20.51). Our findings provided evidence on the relevance of workplace layout design to participation and the duration of workers' active and sedentary time in the context of Japan, a country with the world's most extended working hours among adults.