Designing and Evaluating a Need-Based Employee Wellness Program

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2022-2-01
Kuru, Hakan
The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate a need-based employee wellness program that integrates new media, with a focus on the social-ecological context. To this end, a mixed-methods-research design was used in two consecutive studies. In Study-1, instruments measuring technopark employees' lifestyle behaviours and work productivity were applied to 405 technopark employees in six different Turkish cities. Data were analyzed by using multiple linear regression and two-step cluster analysis. Regression findings indicated that physical activity, nutrition, and stress management behaviours statistically predict work performance in technopark employees (p<0.05). The two-step cluster analysis showed four motivational clusters, including avoidance (no intention to change), intention (have the intention but no action), participation (recently have started), and maintenance (become a habit). Based on the Study-1 findings, a seven-week employee wellness program was developed and applied (Study-2) to intention cluster participants in pretest-posttest experimental design. The experimental group (n=32) received the intervention, and the control group (n=29) did not. At the end of the study, interviews with 10 experimental group participants were conducted. The quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed with mixed design multivariate analysis of variance and deductive thematic analysis, respectively. Results showed a significant increase in physical activity, nutrition, health literacy, and work productivity in the experimental group (p<0.05). The qualitative analysis described the changes in the participants' physical activity, nutrition, work and office behaviours, and experiences in the intervention. In conclusion, the use of the designed need-based employee wellness program is recommended to support technopark employees' overall wellness.

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Citation Formats
H. Kuru, “Designing and Evaluating a Need-Based Employee Wellness Program,” Ph.D. - Doctoral Program, Middle East Technical University, 2022.