8290214 Work-related stress and physical activity: the mediating role of work-family conflict

<h3>Objective</h3> Total Worker Health Approach (TWH) recommends integrating prevention of occupational risk factors and active promotion of healthy behaviours. There is vast evidence showing that psychosocial working conditions, such as high job demands (JD) and work-family conflict (WFC) are associated with unfavourable lifestyle factors, such as physical inactivity. We tested a moderated mediation where the relationship between JD and physical activity is mediated by levels of WFC, while the relationship between JD and WFC is moderated by job control (JC), adjusted for age and job tenure. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> a total of 927 workers of a military flight security company completed a survey composed of different measures: work family conflict (5 items); job demands (8 items); job control (5 items); level of physical activity performed (FIT index); personal and occupational data such as age, body mass index, job seniority and job tasks. To test the moderated mediation model, hierarchical regression analyses were performed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS software. <h3>Results</h3> The results showed that WFC significantly mediated the relationship between JD and physical activity. Job control showed a moderation effect on the relationship between JD and WFC. Furthermore, the indirect effect of JD on physical activity via WFC is weaker when JC is high rather than when it is low. Age, but not job tenure was significantly associated with physical activity (p=0.0001, p=0.089, respectively). While they have an opposite effect on WFC, that increases with age, (beta=0.081; p=0.014) but decreases with job tenure (beta=-0.062; p=0.047). <h3>Conclusion</h3> The results have implications for both management and organizations. The promotion of physical activity among workers should consider reducing job demands and facilitating work-life balance by enhancing job resources, such as job control. This TWH approach could provide a contribution to the reduction of physical inactivity and promote better health and wellbeing of workers.