PURPOSE: The impact of individual perceptions on health is well-established. However, no valid and reliable measure of individual wellness perceptions exists. Therefore, the purpose was to introduce a measure called the Perceived Wellness Survey (PWS). DESIGN: Convenience sampling facilitated recruitment of a sample large enough to perform factor analysis with adequate power (.85). The appropriateness of factor analysis is supported by Bartlett's test (chi 2 = 7110, p < or = .01) and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy (.91). SETTING: The sample (n = 558) was composed of 3M Inc. employees from multiple sites in Austin, Texas (n = 393); employees from MuRata Electronics, Inc., College Station, Pennsylvania (n = 53); and students enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin (n = 112). SUBJECTS: Racial, gender, and age distribution was, respectively, 6.3% African-American (n = 35), 8.2% Asian (n = 46), 73.3% Caucasian (n = 409), 9.5% Hispanic (n = 53), and 2.7% other (n = 15); 47.8% male (n = 267), and 52.2% female (n = 291); and 36.8 years. MEASURES: Measures included the Perceived Wellness Survey, and two additional versions of the Perceived Wellness Survey designed to measure both discriminant and face validity. Perceived Wellness Survey subscales include physical, spiritual, intellectual, psychological, social, and emotional dimensions. RESULTS: All subscales were correlated (p < or = .05) with the Perceived Wellness Survey composite and with each other. Evidence of internal consistency (alpha = .88 to .93), and discriminant, face, and factorial validity was provided. Finally, the Perceived Wellness Survey appears to be a unidimensional scale. CONCLUSION: The unidimensional nature of the Perceived Wellness Survey suggests that perceptions of wellness in various dimensions are intertwined by their affective nature. The Perceived Wellness Survey appears to be reasonably valid and reliable; however, further research is needed.

Adult↗

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The relationship of physical activity and cardiovascular fitness to absenteeism and medical care claims among law enforcement officers.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown an inverse relationship between cardiovascular fitness and both absenteeism and health care costs. The documentation of these relationships with law enforcement officers will support the usefulness of providing health promotion programs for this population. METHODS: Data were collected over a one-year period to examine the relationship of physical activity and cardiovascular fitness to absenteeism and medical care claims among law enforcement officers (N = 734). RESULTS: Analysis of covariance indicated that sedentary officers were absent significantly more often than active officers; also, female officers were absent significantly more than male officers. Although proportionally more female officers than males scored above the 50th percentile on fitness (based on Cooper's norms), increased fitness for females was not related to decreased absenteeism. Increased fitness for male officers was related to decreased absenteeism. Medical care claims for a sub-sample of male officers (N = 363) were lower for more fit and more active officers, although this relationship was nonsignificant. DISCUSSION: These observational data strengthen the hypothesis that absenteeism levels of physically active officers are lower than those of sedentary officers. For females, the relationship of absenteeism to family issues associated with child care and pregnancy leave in the workplace appears worthy of examination.

Absenteeism↗