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Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Research article

Should I sit or stand: likelihood of adherence to messages about reducing sitting time

Authors: Stephanie J. Alley, Corneel Vandelanotte, Mitch J. Duncan, Camille E. Short, Jaclyn P. Maher, Stephanie Schoeppe, Amanda L. Rebar

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

High population levels of sitting is contributing to high rates of chronic health problems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the sitting time messages with the greatest potential to reduce sitting behaviour, as well as identify how this may differ according to demographic, behavioural and psychosocial characteristics.

Methods

Australian adults (N = 1460) were asked to report the likelihood that they would adhere to seven messages promoting reduced sitting time and two messages promoting increased physical activity (from ‘not at all likely’ to ‘very likely’). Ordinal regression models were used to compare messages on the likelihood of adherence and whether likelihood of adherence differed as a function of demographic, psychosocial and behavioural characteristics.

Results

Likelihood of adherence was highest for the messages, ‘Stand and take a break from sitting as frequently as you can’ (83% respectively) and ‘Avoid sitting for more than 10 hours during the entire day’ (82%) and was significantly lower for the message, ‘Sit as little as possible on all days of the week’ (46%) compared to all other messages.

Conclusions

To increase likelihood of adherence messages should be specific, achievable and promote healthy alternatives to sitting (e.g. standing). Messages promoting standing as a healthy alternative to sitting may be more likely to engage people with high sitting behaviour and messages promoting physical activity may be more likely to engage males and retired adults.
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Metadata
Title
Should I sit or stand: likelihood of adherence to messages about reducing sitting time
Authors
Stephanie J. Alley
Corneel Vandelanotte
Mitch J. Duncan
Camille E. Short
Jaclyn P. Maher
Stephanie Schoeppe
Amanda L. Rebar
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7189-z

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