P640 - ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DIETARY SATISFACTION, WORK ABILITY, AND WORK ENGAGEMENT AMONG FINNISH EMPLOYEES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

P640

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DIETARY SATISFACTION, WORK ABILITY, AND WORK ENGAGEMENT AMONG FINNISH EMPLOYEES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

S. Kunvik^1,*, M. Mustakallio¹, V. Iisakkala¹, M. Hallia¹, J. Puustinen^1,2

¹Research Center for Human Functioning, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, ²Satasairaala Central Hospital, Unit of Neurology, Wellbeing Services County of Satakunta, Pori, Finland

Rationale: Diet-related factors have been increasingly linked to employee well-being, including work ability and work engagement. Understanding how satisfaction with one's diet and eating habits relates to these outcomes may help identify new opportunities for workplace health promotion. This study aimed to examine how employees’ satisfaction with their diet and meal rhythm is associated with work ability and work engagement and whether these associations differ by gender.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized baseline data from the RAVI trial, involving 167 employees from eight small- and medium-sized companies located in the Satakunta region of Finland. Participants' satisfaction with their diet and meal rhythm was measured on a subjective 1-10 scale. Work ability was measured by using the Work Ability Index (WAI), and work engagement was measured using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale short questionnaire (UWES-9). 

Results: At baseline, employees rated their satisfaction with their diet (mean 6.63, SD 1.96) and meal rhythm (mean 6.92, SD 1.96) as moderately good on a scale from 1 to 10. Women reported lower satisfaction with their diet (mean 6.05, SD 1.95) compared to men (mean 7.10, SD 1.85), indicating a notable gender difference in perceived dietary satisfaction. In the regression analysis, gender was a significant predictor of dietary satisfaction (β = 0.266, p < 0.001). Satisfaction with diet was positively associated with overall work ability scores (WAI, β=0.340, p=0.001). Satisfaction with meal rhythm was positively associated with work engagement scores (UWES-9, β=0.235, p=0.026).

Conclusion: Employees reported moderate satisfaction with their diet and meal rhythm, with men expressing greater dietary satisfaction than women; satisfaction with diet was positively associated with work ability, while satisfaction with meal rhythm was linked to higher work engagement.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared