Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate differences in intensity-specific physical activity according to commuting mode among workers, using quantitative assessments with accelerometers.
Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from a workplace physical activity survey conducted between 2018 and 2019. Participants were recruited from employees attending a seminar on workplace health promotion aimed at occupational health staff. They were instructed to wear a triaxial accelerometer (Active style Pro HJA-350IT; Omron Healthcare) on their waist for seven consecutive days to measure their physical activity. Commuting mode was assessed via a self-administered questionnaire and categorized as car commuting (inactive) or non-car commuting (active). A linear mixed-effects model was used to compare time spent in physical activity at different intensity levels by commuting mode, adjusting for gender, age, body mass index, work schedule, job type, monthly overtime hours, and accelerometer wear time, with workplace location included as a random effect to account for clustering.
Results: Data were collected from seven workplaces, with a total of 549 employees (295 men aged 20–64 years) agreeing to participate. After applying the inclusion criteria, the final analysis included 458 participants (250 men; mean age 44.7 (SD 11.5) years). Compared to non-car commuters (n = 209), car commuters (n = 249) spent approximately 11 fewer minutes per day in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (car commuters: 49.0 min/day; non-car commuters: 60.3 min/day; p < 0.001). The association between commuting mode and physical activity by intensity was greatest for MVPA (Cohen's d = 0.320), whereas no significant difference was observed in light-intensity physical activity (car commuters: 267.0 min/day; non-car commuters: 271.0 min/day; p = 0.628).
Conclusion: The association between commuting mode and physical activity by intensity was greatest for MVPA. Compared to non-car commuters, those who commuted by car engaged in approximately 11 minutes less MVPA per day.
