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EXERCISE IS MEDICINE: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AND WORKPLACE SUCCESS OF FACULTY AND STAFF

Abstract

Bryce T. Daniels1, Kaitlyn M. Gallagher1, Michelle Gray1, & Erin K. Howie1 1University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Student success and ultimately university success is predicated on the success of faculty and staff. Health status, both physical and mental, are predictors of workplace performance. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF)and body composition are two fitness components with critical impacts on health. Job presenteeism, the lessened capability to work productively due to illness, and job satisfaction are predictors of workplace success. Assessing physical fitness and workplace performance is a start to understanding the critical role of health in faculty/staff success and ultimately improving performance of faculty/staff. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between CRF and body composition with job presenteeism and satisfaction of faculty/staff. METHODS: Through a cross-sectional study design, 46 volunteers (76% staff and 24% faculty, ages: 22-76yr) completed the Health and Productivity Questionnaire to assess workplace performance. The Bruce protocol stress test measured CRF where time on the treadmill was used to estimate relative V̇O2max (mL O2/kg/min). DXA scans measured percent body fat (%BF). A series of simple linear regression (α = .05) was used to evaluate the degree to which aerobic fitness could predict both job presenteeism and satisfaction. Then the extent to which body composition could predict both job presenteeism and satisfaction was examined. RESULTS: The mean relative V̇O2max for females was 28.75(±9.36) and 30.85 (±8.92) for males while the average %BF for females was 39.00(±9.00) and 32.00(±9.00) for males. Estimated V̇O2maxwas not a significant predictor of job presenteeism (β = -1.33, p= .190) nor was estimated V̇O2maxa significant predictor of job satisfaction (β =.01, p = .996) while controlling for sex and age. Body composition was not a significant predictor of job presenteeism (β = -1.62, p = .113) nor for job satisfaction (β = 1.72, p = .093) while controlling for sex and age. CONCLUSION: Though CRF nor body composition were significant factors of job presenteeism and satisfaction in this preliminary investigation, the negative beta estimates of CRF and body composition with job presenteeism potentially suggests that increased physical fitness may lead to less illness at work. However, a larger sample size is necessary to further clarify these associations.

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