Date

4-29-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Rachel Piferi

Keywords

sedentary behavior, physical activity, work productivity, Health Action Process Approach, Self-Determination Theory, Nudge Theory, remote work

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

The rise of remote work has increased sedentary behavior (SB), which is associated with negative health and organizational outcomes. Physical activity (PA) can mitigate these risks. Therefore, this quantitative quasi-experimental study examined changes in PA, SB, and productivity associated with a 6-week Health Action Process Approach (HAPA)-based intervention, informed by Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Nudge Theory, among remote employees. The intervention was delivered asynchronously and targeted both motivational and volitional components of behavior change. A one-group pretest-posttest design required participants to complete the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ; N = 21) and the Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ; N = 19). Paired-samples t-tests indicated a significant increase in standing time, averaging approximately 4 additional hours per workweek. There were no significant changes in walking and sitting. A repeated measures MANOVA revealed no significant group-level changes in absenteeism, presenteeism, or overall work performance. However, bootstrapped regression analyses indicated that increases in standing time were significantly associated with reductions in individual-level absenteeism. These findings suggest that low-friction forms of PA integrated into work routines may be more feasible in remote work contexts. This study highlights the complex relationship between PA, SB, and productivity and provides practical insights for organizations designing workplace well-being initiatives for remote employees.

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