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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0BMC Public Health

Gendered embodiment of sedentary behaviour and its impact on mental wellbeing in physiotherapy higher education: a sequential mixed methods study

  • Laia Sallés1,2,3,4
  • Judit Bort-Roig5,3,6
  • Mireia Vilafranca-Cartagena1
  • Pau Farrés-Godayol5,3,7
  • Salomé Tàrrega1,3,8
  • Cristina Bravo2
  • Anna Puig-Ribera3,6,9
  • Guillem Jabardo-Camprubí1,3,6
9 affiliations
  1. 1Faculty of Health Science at Manresa, Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC), Av. Universitària, 4-6, Manresa, 08242 Spain
  2. 2Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Universitat de Lleida (Udl), c/ de Montserrat Roig, 2, Lleida, 25198 Spain
  3. 3Institute for Research and Innovation in Life and Health Science in Central Catalonia (Iris- CC), Vic, Spain
  4. 4Sport, Exercise and Human Movement Research Group (SEaHM), Manresa, Spain
  5. 5Faculty of Health Sciences and Welfare. Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Sagrada Família, 7, Vic, 08500 Spain
  6. 6Sports and Physical Activity Research Group, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain
  7. 7Research group on Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences (M3O), Vic, Spain
  8. 8Research Group in Epidemiology and Public Health in the Digital Health context (Epi4health), Manresa, Spain
  9. 9Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain
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Abstract

Introduction: Prolonged sedentary behaviour (SB) among university students is a growing concern, yet its impact on mental wellbeing (MWB) cannot be fully understood without considering its embodied nature: how it is experienced through the body in relation to social expectations.

Materials and methods: This study employs a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative phases. The quantitative phase examined SB patterns using activPAL™ devices and MWB through the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, among 60 physiotherapy university students. The qualitative phase, based on an ethnographic intended approach and focus groups, explored gendered experiences of SB through Csordas’ theory of embodiment.

Results: Gender-stratified correlation analyses revealed key patterns: among women, shorter SB bouts (< 30 min) were positively associated with MWB, whereas prolonged bouts (> 60 min) corresponded to lower MWB scores. These associations were not observed among men. Two themes were identified through an abductive thematic analysis during the qualitative phase: gendered constructions of rest-time, and SB as shaped by gendered constraints. Women reported internalized pressures to remain productive, often experiencing guilt during non-productive rest, whereas men framed SB as leisure, free from self-surveillance.

Discussion/conclusions: While device-measured SB patterns were similar across genders, their embodied experiences differed, as well as the perception of MWB attributed to the SB patterns. These findings highlight SB as a socially constructed and embodied experience. Gender-sensitive approaches to student MWB must consider how SB is internalized and regulated through cultural norms to avoid reinforcing existing inequalities.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28742-x.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{salles2026gendered,
  title = {{Gendered embodiment of sedentary behaviour and its impact on mental wellbeing in physiotherapy higher education: a sequential mixed methods study}},
  author = {Laia Sallés and Judit Bort-Roig and Mireia Vilafranca-Cartagena and Pau Farrés-Godayol and Salomé Tàrrega and Cristina Bravo and Anna Puig-Ribera and Guillem Jabardo-Camprubí},
  journal = {BMC Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28742-x},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28742-x},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Gendered embodiment of sedentary behaviour and its impact on mental wellbeing in physiotherapy higher education: a sequential mixed methods study
AU  - Laia Sallés
AU  - Judit Bort-Roig
AU  - Mireia Vilafranca-Cartagena
AU  - Pau Farrés-Godayol
AU  - Salomé Tàrrega
AU  - Cristina Bravo
AU  - Anna Puig-Ribera
AU  - Guillem Jabardo-Camprubí
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/01
JO  - BMC Public Health
DO  - 10.1186/s12889-026-28742-x
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28742-x
AB  - Introduction: Prolonged sedentary behaviour (SB) among university students is a growing concern, yet its impact on mental wellbeing (MWB) cannot be fully understood without considering its embodied nature: how it is experienced through the body in relation to social expectations.  Materials and methods: This study employs a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative phases. The quantitative phase examined SB patterns using activPAL™ devices and MWB through the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, among 60 physiotherapy university students. The qualitative phase, based on an ethnographic intended approach and focus groups, explored gendered experiences of SB through Csordas’ theory of embodiment.  Results: Gender-stratified correlation analyses revealed key patterns: among women, shorter SB bouts (< 30 min) were positively associated with MWB, whereas prolonged bouts (> 60 min) corresponded to lower MWB scores. These associations were not observed among men. Two themes were identified through an abductive thematic analysis during the qualitative phase: gendered constructions of rest-time, and SB as shaped by gendered constraints. Women reported internalized pressures to remain productive, often experiencing guilt during non-productive rest, whereas men framed SB as leisure, free from self-surveillance.  Discussion/conclusions: While device-measured SB patterns were similar across genders, their embodied experiences differed, as well as the perception of MWB attributed to the SB patterns. These findings highlight SB as a socially constructed and embodied experience. Gender-sensitive approaches to student MWB must consider how SB is internalized and regulated through cultural norms to avoid reinforcing existing inequalities.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28742-x.
SN  - 1471-2458
ER  -