Work environment and psychosocial factors affecting physical activity among Taiwanese information technology professionals: a structural equation modeling approach.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationships among work environment, psychosocial factors, and physical activity (PA) among information technology (IT) professionals. METHODS This was a cross-sectional survey of 576 IT professionals from three IT companies in Taiwan. Structural equation modeling was used to test a theoretically supported model using social cognitive theory, incorporating variables from the demand-control model. RESULTS Higher levels of PA were positively associated with supportive workplace environments, positive outcome expectations, and self-efficacy for PA. Self-efficacy partially mediated the effects of supportive workplace environments on PA. Job strain had an indirect effect on PA through self-efficacy. The final model accounted for 31% of the variance in PA. CONCLUSIONS Work environment and psychosocial factors are both important. Workplace PA interventions directed toward individuals' self-efficacy and outcome expectations in the context of supportive environments may be useful.