Meaning of Life, Physical Activities, Quality of Life, Sedentary Lifestyle
Conditions
Keywords
Physical activity, Sedentary Behaviour, Workplace health, Logotherapy, Behaviour change, Online intervention
Brief summary
Insufficient physical activity (PA) among individuals with sedentary occupations is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease and reduced health-related quality of life. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an originally developed logotherapy-based distance education program on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and selected aspects of health-related quality of life. A minimum of 200 participants aged 35-60 years with sedentary occupations will be recruited from multiple organizations in Croatia and randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. All participants will complete validated questionnaires assessing physical activity, sedentary behavior, health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, meaning in life, and motivation for exercise at baseline and after the intervention period. The experimental group will participate in an eight-week online education program consisting of weekly 30-minute sessions followed by brief discussions, while the control group will continue their usual lifestyle without intervention. The intervention integrates principles of logotherapy and existential analysis with the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change and the CALO-RE behavior change taxonomy. The findings may contribute to the development of more effective, meaning-centered approaches to promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in adult populations.
Detailed description
Physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary behavior are major public health concerns associated with increased risk of chronic diseases and reduced health-related quality of life. Employees with sedentary occupations are particularly affected due to prolonged sitting time and insufficient daily movement. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a logotherapy-based distance education intervention on physical activity levels, sedentary behavior, and selected aspects of health-related quality of life in adults with sedentary occupations. The intervention integrates principles of logotherapy and existential analysis with the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change and the CALO-RE behavior change taxonomy. The theoretical framework emphasizes meaning-centered motivation as a potential mechanism for sustainable behavior change in physical activity. A randomized controlled design will be applied. A minimum of 200 participants aged 35-60 years will be recruited from organizations in Croatia and randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group will participate in an eight-week online educational program consisting of weekly 30-minute sessions followed by brief discussions, while the control group will maintain their usual lifestyle without intervention. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention using validated instruments, including the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), SF-36 Health Survey, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Meaning in Life Scale, and Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 (EMI-2). It is hypothesized that participants in the experimental group will demonstrate increased physical activity, reduced sedentary behavior, improved health-related quality of life, and higher levels of self-efficacy, meaning in life, and motivation for exercise compared to the control group.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALLogotherapy-Based Online Education Program
An 8-week online educational program based on logotherapy and existential analysis, delivered once weekly in 30-minute sessions followed by brief discussions. The program aims to increase physical activity, reduce sedentary behavior, and enhance meaning in life, self-efficacy, and motivation for exercise.
Sponsors
University of Zagreb
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving an 8-week logotherapy-based online education program or a control group receiving no intervention.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
35 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Adults aged 35-60 years * Employment in a sedentary occupation for at least the past 2 years * Ability to participate in an online intervention program * Classified in the precontemplation or contemplation stage of behavior change regarding physical activity * Ability to understand and complete questionnaires in Croatian
Exclusion criteria
* Presence of severe chronic disease * Any medical condition that significantly limits daily physical activity or mobility * Inability to participate in online sessions or complete study procedures * Current participation in another structured physical activity or behavioral intervention program
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Activity Level | Baseline and 8 weeks post-intervention | Assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). GPAQ evaluates physical activity across work, transport, and leisure domains. Higher scores indicate higher levels of physical activity. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sedentary Behaviour | Baseline and 8 weeks post-intervention | Assessed using the sedentary behavior component of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), measured as average daily sitting time in hours. Higher values indicate greater sedentary behavior. |
Countries
Croatia
Outcome results
None listed