Page 117 - Petelin, Ana. 2020. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije / Health of the Working-Age Population. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo ▪︎ Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 117
ceptions of physical activity interventions in a worksite ohranjanje in krepitev zdravja | maintaining and promoting health
in a Slovene company – a qualitative exploration study within
the Star Vital project
Martin Schultze1, Klemen Širok2
1 Institute of Public Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
2 University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
Introduction: The ageing work population is a demanding challenge of the fu-
ture. To achieve a good health status, individuals have to live active lifestyles -
throughout their whole lifespan. To gain insights and explore working cultures
is mandatory for a successful, sustainable intervention that strives for individ-
ual and structural changes. In this study we focus on workers in the selected
company and aim to explore experiences, attitudes and expectations partici-
pants discuss towards healthy lifestyles and intervention programs. Moreover,
we try to focus on the individual resources and capital these workers have and
ask how this limits and structures through their habitus the (health) choices (fo-
cused on physical activity) they make.
Methods: To grasp how workers perceive the importance of physical activity
during worktime and how the interplay between individual competences and
structural capacities plays out we did a focus group discussion and conduct-
ed 10 semi-structured qualitative interviews in a Slovene company that partic-
ipates in the Star-Vital project. The interviews were audio-recorded and tran-
scribed verbatim. Data were anonymised and analysed thematically.
Results: Health relevant behaviours are closely linked to broader value sys-
tems, behavioural norms, body perceptions among others that may be typical
for certain (sub-) cultures. They are adopted according to the environments in
which people live, work and recreate and they are socially learned throughout
the life course. Based on the salutogenesis concept, in the interviews we fo-
cussed on the sense of coherence in the dimensions meaningfulness, manage-
ability and comprehensibility/understandability. We analysed the motivational
aspects, the skills as well as the access to resources. Another focus was on the
role of age and the importance of work history/biography.
Discussion and conclusions: This individual centred research approach can be
useful for identifying factors that support well-being as well as understanding
coping mechanisms to overcome stressful situations and strains that often oc-
cur at worksites. To maintain a successful intervention, it was important to ex-
plore how workers respond to and negotiate concepts of physical activity with-
in their own life worlds. We described impacts of health interventions on the
perception of healthy lifestyles and based upon empirical findings discussed
possible improvements or adjustments for the Star-Vital approach. Further-
more, findings even revealed some significant insights into the current models
of how to stimulate active participation in workplace wellbeing programs be-
yond the Star-Vital project.
Key words: Work site interventions, salutogenesis, capabilities, qualitative
methods
115
in a Slovene company – a qualitative exploration study within
the Star Vital project
Martin Schultze1, Klemen Širok2
1 Institute of Public Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
2 University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
Introduction: The ageing work population is a demanding challenge of the fu-
ture. To achieve a good health status, individuals have to live active lifestyles -
throughout their whole lifespan. To gain insights and explore working cultures
is mandatory for a successful, sustainable intervention that strives for individ-
ual and structural changes. In this study we focus on workers in the selected
company and aim to explore experiences, attitudes and expectations partici-
pants discuss towards healthy lifestyles and intervention programs. Moreover,
we try to focus on the individual resources and capital these workers have and
ask how this limits and structures through their habitus the (health) choices (fo-
cused on physical activity) they make.
Methods: To grasp how workers perceive the importance of physical activity
during worktime and how the interplay between individual competences and
structural capacities plays out we did a focus group discussion and conduct-
ed 10 semi-structured qualitative interviews in a Slovene company that partic-
ipates in the Star-Vital project. The interviews were audio-recorded and tran-
scribed verbatim. Data were anonymised and analysed thematically.
Results: Health relevant behaviours are closely linked to broader value sys-
tems, behavioural norms, body perceptions among others that may be typical
for certain (sub-) cultures. They are adopted according to the environments in
which people live, work and recreate and they are socially learned throughout
the life course. Based on the salutogenesis concept, in the interviews we fo-
cussed on the sense of coherence in the dimensions meaningfulness, manage-
ability and comprehensibility/understandability. We analysed the motivational
aspects, the skills as well as the access to resources. Another focus was on the
role of age and the importance of work history/biography.
Discussion and conclusions: This individual centred research approach can be
useful for identifying factors that support well-being as well as understanding
coping mechanisms to overcome stressful situations and strains that often oc-
cur at worksites. To maintain a successful intervention, it was important to ex-
plore how workers respond to and negotiate concepts of physical activity with-
in their own life worlds. We described impacts of health interventions on the
perception of healthy lifestyles and based upon empirical findings discussed
possible improvements or adjustments for the Star-Vital approach. Further-
more, findings even revealed some significant insights into the current models
of how to stimulate active participation in workplace wellbeing programs be-
yond the Star-Vital project.
Key words: Work site interventions, salutogenesis, capabilities, qualitative
methods
115
