Bestuursvlak en fisieke aktiwiteit se verband met lewenstyl en gesondheidstatus by blanke manlike bestuurslui

Abstract

The relation of managerial level and physical activity with lifestyle and health status among white male managers. The general health status of an employee often display a direct relation with his productivity. Worldwide research has shown that work production, stress management, vitality and the quality of life can be improved with a training programme based on scientific principles. Due to technological advances and mechanisation, physical activities in today's occupations have been reduced to the minimum. The consequences are a variety of degenerative conditions that contribute to heart disease, stroke, hypertension and premature aging. Aspects like self-concept, socio-economic status, psychological and spiritual well-being also shows clear relation with participation in physical activity, lifestyle and health. Uncertainty exists regarding the influence of managerial level on physical activity patterns, lifestyle and health status and the way they interrelate with each other. The aim of this study was firstly to investigate the relation of managerial level with lifestyle, physical activity and health status. Secondly, the influence of physical activity and lifestyle on the possible relation between managerial level and health status were determined. The subjects of the study were drawn from the SANG ALA-data from companies all over South Africa. The group consists of 859 white male executives with an average age of 41.3 ± 9 .2 year. The data were collected by means of questionnaires. Participation in physical activity was determined with the Physical Activity Index (Sharkey, 1984:5). Lifestyle was determined with the Belloc and Breslow (1972:46-64) questionnaire and health status was measured by the Seriousness of Illness Rating Scale (Wyler et al., 1968:363-374). To indicate the difference between the variables, t-tests, two-way analysis of variance and Newman-Keuls post hoc comparisons were used. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determined the contribution of physical activity, managerial level, academic qualification, lifestyle, type of occupation, amount of years in occupation and age to the variance of health status.

Managerial level showed statistically significant (p ::;; 0.05) relation with age and lifestyle. Top level managers are in general three years older than middle level managers. In the two-way analysis of variance, managerial level showed no statistically significant (p>0.05) relation with participation in physical activity, lifestyle and health status. In a further two-way analysis of variance, managerial level showed no relation with physical activity and health, independent of lifestyle. Managerial level also showed no relation with lifestyle independent from physical activity. Maintaining constant body mass and age were the primary contributors towards the variance of health status in the stepwise multiple regression analysis that was performed. Managerial level made no contribution towards the variance of health status in the stepwise multiple regression analysis.