From lunch breaks to late nights: a qualitative study of how workplaces can support healthy diet, physical activity and sleep behaviours in young adults
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
Early adulthood (age 16–24) is an important time for development of healthy behaviours such as diet, physical activity and sleep, which promote wellbeing and maintenance of a healthy weight. This study explored the perspective of young adult employees and employers on the influence of work and the workplace on these behaviours, and what employers and policy makers could do to support healthy behaviours among young adults in the workplace.
Methods
Our research focused on four industries (food services, construction, early years education, and social care), comprising focus groups with young adult employees (aged 16–24) and with employers. Framework analysis of focus group transcripts compared findings and identified common themes across the different industries represented, with a focus on perceived challenges, solutions, and pathways to supporting healthy behaviours.
Results
23 young adults and 28 employers took part in the research. Employers and young adults agreed that work and the workplace had a strong influence on health behaviours and health. Participants discussed both the negative influence of work, for example long working hours, poor working environments, but also the positive role of employers’ support for health, incentives for healthy behaviours and good relationships with managers. While young people recognised the role of employers in supporting their health, they deem that individuals are ultimately responsible. Employers primarily emphasise their role in providing education and raising awareness about healthy lifestyles.
Conclusions
Structural, environmental and relational factors are all important in ensuring that workplaces support young people’s health.
Early adulthood (age 16–24) is an important time for development of healthy behaviours such as diet, physical activity and sleep, which promote wellbeing and maintenance of a healthy weight. This study explored the perspective of young adult employees and employers on the influence of work and the workplace on these behaviours, and what employers and policy makers could do to support healthy behaviours among young adults in the workplace.
Methods
Our research focused on four industries (food services, construction, early years education, and social care), comprising focus groups with young adult employees (aged 16–24) and with employers. Framework analysis of focus group transcripts compared findings and identified common themes across the different industries represented, with a focus on perceived challenges, solutions, and pathways to supporting healthy behaviours.
Results
23 young adults and 28 employers took part in the research. Employers and young adults agreed that work and the workplace had a strong influence on health behaviours and health. Participants discussed both the negative influence of work, for example long working hours, poor working environments, but also the positive role of employers’ support for health, incentives for healthy behaviours and good relationships with managers. While young people recognised the role of employers in supporting their health, they deem that individuals are ultimately responsible. Employers primarily emphasise their role in providing education and raising awareness about healthy lifestyles.
Conclusions
Structural, environmental and relational factors are all important in ensuring that workplaces support young people’s health.
Date Issued
2025-12-17
Date Acceptance
2025-11-06
Citation
BMC Public Health, 2025, 25
ISSN
1471-2458
Publisher
BMC
Journal / Book Title
BMC Public Health
Volume
25
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2025 Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
4262
Date Publish Online
2025-12-17