RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DAILY SITTING TIME AND PERCEIVED BARRIERS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG STAFF OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary behaviour have become significant public health concerns due to their association with numerous adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and premature mortality. This study therefore investigated the relationship between daily sitting time and perceived barriers to physical activity among staff of Colleges of Education in Borno State. The study adopted a correlational research design. The target population comprised staff members of two government-owned Colleges of Education in Borno State: College of Education, Waka-Biu, and Umar Ibn Ibrahim El-Kanemi College of Education, Science and Technology, Bama. A sample of 285 staff members was drawn from a population of 590 employees. A multi-stage sampling procedure involving purposive, simple random, and accidental sampling techniques was employed to select respondents. Data were collected using a researcher-developed instrument titled Self-Reported Daily Sitting Time and Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity among Staff of Tertiary Institutions Questionnaire. The instrument consisted of demographic items and statements measuring daily sitting time and perceived barriers to physical activity on a five-point Likert scale. Face and content validity were established through expert review, while reliability testing using Cronbach’s alpha yielded a coefficient of 0.81, indicating satisfactory internal consistency. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while Pearson Product-Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the hypothesis at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that a substantial proportion of respondents reported high levels of occupational sitting, with the majority indicating that they spent most of their working day seated while performing academic and administrative duties. Respondents also reported several barriers to physical activity, particularly lack of time, work-related fatigue, competing family and occupational responsibilities, and limited access to exercise opportunities. Correlation analysis showed a statistically significant positive relationship between daily sitting time and total perceived-barrier scores to physical activity (r = 0.487, p = 0.0001). This result indicates that staff members who spent longer periods sitting were more likely to perceive greater obstacles to engaging in physical activity. Consequently, the null hypothesis stating that there is no significant relationship between daily sitting time and perceived barriers to physical activity was rejected. The study concludes that sedentary behaviour and perceived barriers to physical activity are closely interconnected among staff of Colleges of Education in Borno State. Increased daily sitting time is associated with higher perceptions of barriers to physical activity, suggesting that prolonged occupational sitting may reinforce inactivity patterns and reduce opportunities for active lifestyles. The study recommends the implementation of workplace wellness programmes, active-break policies, physical activity promotion initiatives, and supportive institutional environments aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour and improving physical activity participation among college staff.