Breaking up Prolonged Sitting Times and Mental Health Among Japanese Workers: A Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the association between sedentary behavior at work and mental health among workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 344 workers at a pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Japan. Mental health conditions were assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Participants were classified into the two groups based on the frequency of breaking up prolonged sitting: high-frequency (standing at least once every 60 minutes) and low-frequency (intervals between standing exceeding 60 minutes or prolonged sitting) groups. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for mental health were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance. The low-frequency group had higher prevalence ratios for stress (1.82), anxiety (2.68), and depression (3.64) than the high-frequency group. Prolonged sitting at the workplace may be associated with worse mental health among Japanese workers.