Enhancing workplace well-being : promoting behaviour, physical activity, nutrition, and rest applying the COM-B -model
Karjalainen, Aaro (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052315433
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052315433
Tiivistelmä
Workplace well-being has emerged as a critical factor in enhancing employee satisfaction, productivity, and overall organisational success. This thesis, titled Enhancing Workplace Well-Being: Promoting Behaviour, Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Rest Through the COM-B Model, explores how organisations can support employee well-being by fostering healthier behaviours in three key domains: physical activity, nutrition, and rest. Guided by the COM-B model of behaviour change and the Behaviour Change Wheel, the research identifies evidence-based practices that employers and employees can implement to create sustainable and health-promoting environments.
The study addresses three core research questions: (1) How can workplace well-being be effectively enhanced through behaviour change in physical activity, nutrition, and rest? (2) What specific activities and practices in these domains contribute most significantly to workplace well-being? (3) How can the COM-B model be practically applied to foster these changes? Drawing from systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and high-quality academic literature, the thesis develops structured frameworks that translate complex behavioural science into practical tools for workplace application.
The findings underscore the critical role of behaviour in shaping workplace well-being. While employers can support well-being through policies and resources, individual employees also bear responsibility for adopting and maintaining healthy behaviours. The COM-B model bridges this divide by offering a structured method to address barriers and enablers of behaviour change.
This thesis contributes to the field by bridging theoretical and practical approaches, providing organisations with a robust foundation to implement well-being initiatives grounded in behavioural science. Suggestions for future research include real-world testing of the proposed frameworks and participatory design methods to enhance employee engagement. Ultimately, the thesis underscores the importance of empowering both employers and employees to take shared responsibility for health and well-being, paving the way for more resilient and thriving workplaces.
The study addresses three core research questions: (1) How can workplace well-being be effectively enhanced through behaviour change in physical activity, nutrition, and rest? (2) What specific activities and practices in these domains contribute most significantly to workplace well-being? (3) How can the COM-B model be practically applied to foster these changes? Drawing from systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and high-quality academic literature, the thesis develops structured frameworks that translate complex behavioural science into practical tools for workplace application.
The findings underscore the critical role of behaviour in shaping workplace well-being. While employers can support well-being through policies and resources, individual employees also bear responsibility for adopting and maintaining healthy behaviours. The COM-B model bridges this divide by offering a structured method to address barriers and enablers of behaviour change.
This thesis contributes to the field by bridging theoretical and practical approaches, providing organisations with a robust foundation to implement well-being initiatives grounded in behavioural science. Suggestions for future research include real-world testing of the proposed frameworks and participatory design methods to enhance employee engagement. Ultimately, the thesis underscores the importance of empowering both employers and employees to take shared responsibility for health and well-being, paving the way for more resilient and thriving workplaces.