Social Ecological Factors Influencing Participation in Workplace Health Promotion Programming among University Employees

Workplace health promotion programming (WHPP) promotes healthy behaviors in employees, reduces negative health risks, reduces overall healthcare costs, and improves workplace outcomes. Despite known benefits of workplace health promotion, research demonstrates low employee participation rates across various settings. There is limited research examining multilevel factors that influence employee participation in WHPP and how the Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted workplace wellness offerings and employee participation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors that influenced participation in WHPP among university employees through a social ecological lens. Thirteen university employees participated in semi-structured interviews through Zoom. Interview questions explored factors that influenced employee participation from an intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, environmental, and societal lens. Participants most often reported organizational and intrapersonal factors influencing participation, however data analysis showed there are aspects of all five multilevel systems that impact employee participation. Findings provide valuable insights to similar organizations on how to best encourage participation in workplace health programming. The results of this study may inform future workplace wellness program development, organizational policy, and provide a framework to comprehensively analyze employee participation in WHPP. Ultimately, having a positive social change impact on the health and well-being of employees, their families, and the community.