Investigation of the effect of sedentary behavior on depression, anxiety, and stress in office workers

Introduction: In recent years, technological advancements have led to increased screen exposure, which has been associated with various psychological effects. Office workers, in particular, have become increasingly vulnerable to mental health disorders. To date, no study has been conducted in our country specifically examining the impact of sedentary behavior on depression, anxiety, and stress among office workers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between sedentary behavior and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in office workers. Methods: The sample of the study consisted of office workers working at the headquarters of a shoe company. No sampling method was employed; instead, a total of 210 individuals who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agreed to participate were included in the study. Data collection began in January 2025 and was completed in April 2025. The data were collected online via Google Forms. The data collection tools used in the study included a personal information form, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ). Results: This study aimed to examine the relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress levels and sedentary behavior among workers. The study group consisted of 210 participants, of whom 60.0% were male, 56.7% were single, 55.7% were classified as having third-degree obesity, and 53.8% rated their health status as "moderate." The overall mean score for depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS) was X̅=15.08 (SD=10.28), indicating a low level. Subscale means were X̅=4.88 (SD=3.72) for depression, X̅=4.48 (SD=3.78) for anxiety, and X̅=5.71 (SD=3.69) for stress. According to the independent samples t-test, male participants had significantly higher DASS scores (X̅=16.33) compared to female participants (X̅=13.21) (t=-2.167; p=0.031). Similarly, participants who regularly used medication had higher mean scores (X̅=20.20) than those who did not (X̅=14.23), and this difference was statistically significant (t=2.275; p=0.029). Participants who rated their health as "moderate" had significantly higher DASS scores (X̅=17.39) than those who rated their health as "good" (X̅=12.39) (t=-3.611; p=0.000). Regarding sedentary behavior, the average duration of sedentary activity was X̅=12.33 hours/day (SD=7.56) on weekdays and X̅=11.07 hours/day (SD=7.14) on weekends. A strong positive correlation was found between weekday and weekend sedentary durations (r=0.788; p<0.05). However, no statistically significant relationship was found between sedentary behavior and depression, anxiety, or stress levels (p>0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: This study examined the relationship between sedentary behavior and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among office workers. Overall, participants showed low levels of psychological symptoms. However, factors such as gender, chronic illness, medication use, and subjective health perception were found to have significant effects on mental well-being. No significant relationship was found between sedentary behavior and psychological variables. Based on these findings, it is recommended to promote physical activity in the workplace, improve access to psychological support services, and implement programs that enhance workers' health perceptions. Future research should include broader, sector-based comparisons.