CHSU Discovery

Abstract

• Workplace anxiety negatively impacts employee well-being,
productivity, and job satisfaction, particularly among sedentary
workers. Prolonged sitting is associated with increased anxiety
risk and poorer mental health outcomes.
• Physical activity reduces anxiety through modulation of the
hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, increased
endorphin release, and improved self-efficacy.¹ Short bouts of
low-intensity exercise can improve mood and reduce anxiety
symptoms.²
• Desk-based exercise (“deskercise”) involves brief, low-impact
movements performed at a workstation, providing a practical
way to increase physical activity without disrupting workflow.
• Intervention aim: Increasing daily employee deskercise duration
at Camarena Health from 10 minutes to 15 minutes to improve
anxiety outcomes, measured by a reduction in GAD-7 scores.