Walking for Wellness: Using Pedometers to Decrease Sedentary Behaviour and Promote Mental Health

Abstract

This pilot study examined the effects of a four-week intervention using a pedometer to increase physical activity and mental health status and decrease sedentary behaviour among working adults, using a non-equivalent quasi-experimental control group design. Descriptive analyses and nonparametric procedures were employed. At baseline, there were no statistically significant differences with regard to average daily time spent sitting between the group that used pedometers and the one that did not. After four weeks, a statistically significant decrease in the average daily time spent sitting, as well as an improvement in mental health, was observed among pedometer users. In contrast, there were no significant changes on this outcome for nonusers. Our results highlight the potential benefits of a simple, short-term intervention for workers that could decrease sedentary behaviour and increase the mental health status of working adults.

Keywords:

• pedometers
• physical activity
• mental health
• workplace