Is Usage of a Wellness Center Associated with Improved Quality of Life?

Abstract

Purpose.

There is limited documentation regarding the potential quality of life (QOL) benefits associated with use of a worksite wellness center. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between potential QOL change and use of a worksite wellness center during a 12-month period.

Design.

Analysis of an annual QOL wellness center member survey and wellness center use during a 12-month time period.

Setting.

A worksite wellness center.

Participants.

A total of 1151 employee wellness center members, average age of 39.5 years, 69.7% female, and 43.5% reported being overweight.

Intervention.

Members of the worksite wellness center have access to a range of fitness options, including exercise classes, water aerobics, an indoor track, strength training, and aerobic conditioning equipment. Additionally, nutritional classes are offered, and there is a wellness café. For resiliency, members can participate in wellness coaching or a stress-reduction group program.

Method.

Participants completed a baseline QOL survey and a second QOL survey 1 year later. An electronic entry system tracked use of the wellness center.

Results.

Participants were divided into four wellness center use quartiles: low users (less than once every 2 weeks), below-average users, above-average users, and high users (two to three visits per week). High users reported experiencing improvements in their physical QOL (p < .0001) compared with the low users. Additionally, low users experienced a greater decline in their mental QOL (p = .05) compared with high users.

Conclusion.

In a large sample of employees, use of a wellness center during a 12-month period was associated with benefits for physical QOL. QOL is an important domain of wellness; therefore, in addition to measuring physiologic changes, examining potential QOL changes may be another important outcome measure for wellness centers.

Keywords

Quality of Life Wellness Center Usage Prevention Research Manuscript format: research Research purpose: program evaluation Study design: nonexperimental cohort Outcome measure: cognitive Setting: workplace Health focus: social health Strategy: skill building/behavior change Target population age: adults Target population circumstances: geographic location

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