Job demands and job control affect physical activity in two experimental workplace simulations

What is it about?

Suppose you had a hard day at work. You had to handle many rude customer complaints over the phone, having to stay polite all day long. Moreover, you had to complete many complex tasks in a timely manner. Finally, the workday is over. Would you prefer riding home 10 miles with your bicycle, or would you rather take your car? Our experiments show that facing emotionally and cognitively demanding situations at work is relevant for physical activity engagement after work. We found that employees who were confronted with high emotional and cognitive demands at work showed less physical activity after work on a bicycle ergometer. We also found that job control can increase physical activity after work by increasing feelings of self-determination which is a source of vitality and motivation.

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Photo by Dillon Shook on Unsplash

Photo by Dillon Shook on Unsplash