Factors Associated with Office Syndrome among Students and Working Adults

Abstract

This quantitative research aimed to: 1) study the prevalence of Office Syndrome among students and working adults, and 2) examine the relationship between lifestyle behaviors and Office Syndrome among these groups. A total of 850 participants were recruited using purposive sampling. A questionnaire (with a reliability coefficient of 0.87) was used as the data collection instrument with three sections: general information, lifestyle behaviors, and symptoms of Office Syndrome. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics, specifically Pearson’s Correlation and Chi-Square Test.

The research findings indicate that: 1) The prevalence of Office Syndrome among the sample group was at a moderate level (  = 3.45, S.D. = 0.96). The most frequently reported symptom was neck and shoulder pain. 2) Regarding the relationship between lifestyle behaviors and the occurrence of Office Syndrome, it was found that prolonged sitting for work/study without changing posture, continuous use of computers and mobile phones, lack of eye breaks, and insufficient exercise collectively showed a statistically significant positive correlation (p < .05). The findings of this research can inform health promotion planning and the design of appropriate environments in both educational institutions and workplaces. This can help prevent and reduce the risk of Office Syndrome in the target groups in a sustainable manner.