In relation to workplace health, there has been an increasing interest in presenteeism in recent years. This study investigated the relationship of physical activity, psychosomatic symptoms and presenteeism, with the aim of increasing the visibility of presenteeism and promoting health on workplace. Our main research interest was to examine the relationships between the mentioned constructs on the Slovenian sample of employees and to determine whether individual variables of physical activity and psychosomatic symptoms prove to be important predictors of presentism. Three questionnaires (Patient Health Questionnaire, Work Limitations Questionnaire and Stanford Presenteeism Scale) and a set of physical activity questions were administred on the sample of 514 employees. The results showed a statistically significant relationship between psychosomatic symptoms and presenteeism in the Slovenian sample of employees. In addition, results showed significat association between presenteeism and some variables of physical activity - frequency, duration of physical activity, moderately intense and high intense physical activity, general evaluation of physical activity, aerobic exercise, strength exercises and external regulation. Further results showed a statistically significant association between psychosomatic symptoms and some variables of physical activity; these are frequency, duration of physical activity, moderately intense and high intense physical activity, general evaluation of physical activity, aerobic exercise and strength exercises, and external, integrated and intrinsic regulation. Increased presenteeism was associated with increases in reported absenteeism in the Slovenian sample of employees. Age, general evaluation of physical activity, and general, aerobic physical activity proved to be important predictors of presenteeism, while sex, age, education, and general aerobic exercise predicted psychosomatic symptoms. Analysis of the results also revealed that the relationship between physical activity and presentism is moderated by psychosomatic symptoms. The article points out that employees with mental or physical health problems have a lower percentage of productive time than healthy employees; however, physical activity can be a cost-effective measure to manage psychosomatic symptoms and loss of workplace productivity.
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