Research Paper
An exploratory study of inclusive worksite wellness: Considering employees with disabilities

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Abstract

Background

An increasing number of employers are offering worksite wellness programs, yet, little is known about the participation of workers with disabilities.

Objective

The primary purpose of this study was to explore the factors, which facilitate and impede participation in worksite wellness offerings by individuals with disabilities.

Methods

Participants completed the Access to Worksite Wellness Services to Employees with Disabilities (AWWSED).

Results

The decision to participate in worksite wellness programs is influenced by several individual, social, and organizational factors including perceptions of the impact of one's disability on health, the health habits of coworkers, and an organizational commitment to employee well-being. Study participants also indicated the importance of affordability, convenient times, and interest in the wellness activities being offered, as influencing participation decisions.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that individual, social, and organizational factors all contribute to the decision to participate and suggest that social support from colleagues as well as easily obtained and understandable program information from the employer, may be especially useful in engaging employees with disabilities in wellness programs.

Section snippets

Disability and worksite wellness

Everyday life tends to be more stressful for individuals with disabilities than for people without disabilities due to factors such as physical inaccessibility, social exclusion, and barriers to employment.6, 7, 8 While workers with and without disabilities may experience stress from workload and work hours,9 strained colleague relationships, lack of job security, and poor working conditions,10 individuals with disabilities may experience additional stressors such as less coworker support, and

Survey development

In order to inquire about participants' perceptions of access to and factors influencing the use of worksite wellness resources, an online survey, the Access to Worksite Wellness Survey for Employees with Disabilities (AWWSED), was created. This was done through a process which began with an extensive review of the literature and of existing surveys related to employment, disability, and wellness. Prior research suggests that several demographic factors including race, gender, educational

Results

Participants included 67 females, 19 males, and 1 individual who did not indicate their gender. An analysis of the demographic variables revealed no significant differences in responses by gender. Most worked full time in public sector jobs or for small, not for profit organizations, and reported educational achievement beyond attainment of a bachelor's degree. For additional demographic information see Table 1, Table 2, below.

All individuals identified as having a disability with most

Discussion

The current study adds to our understanding of the worksite resources individuals with disabilities may use to maintain employment and overall functioning, an issue that has received little attention in the existing literature.18, 21 The reported wellness program participation rate of approximately 45%, is consistent with prior research which suggests the average participation rate among general population employees is less than 50%.41, 42 One reason why more workers do not participate in

Limitations

As with all research, this study had limitations. The online survey format attracted participants with access to computers and the Internet. Also, given the relatively small sample size the findings from this work are not generalizable. Additionally, 75% of the participants were female; perhaps due to a greater female representation within the social service organizations targeted for survey distribution. The level of educational attainment among participants is also noteworthy as more than

Future research

This exploratory study, conducted using a survey developed within an ecological framework, highlights the need for further research about the worksite wellness participation of employees with disabilities. A larger, more comprehensive study in which participants are given the opportunity to rate the significance of specific individual, social, and organizational factors in their decision to participate, is needed to determine effective approaches for marketing and implementing wellness programs

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  • Sponsorship for this study was provided by the K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Employment and Disability Institute at Cornell University.

    Disclosure: Information about development of the survey tool developed for this research was presented at the North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity, October 2012.

    Conflict of interest: None.

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