1. HOLISTIC HEALTH FACTORS IN THE WORKPLACE:
april.p.mcewan@gmail.com
Primary areas of
concentration for
thesis study:
BIOPHILIA, ERGONOMICS and EXERCISE conceptual
framework
April P. McEwan, MSD industrial design candidate, ASU
In an attempt to advocate body- health. As biophilia, ergonomics and exercise
conscious design and healing work are components of holistic health, all factors
environments, this research study of holistic are considered to be valuable within the
health in the workplace explores cognitive, workplaces of these case studies.
social and physical well-being in four small
US offices that are between 1000 and 4000 A majority of participants declared a
square feet and employ three to twelve preference for workplace environments with
employees. Holistic health, as pursued in this serene natural environments with outdoor
research, includes social health, emotional spaces and interaction with other species,
health and physical health. These three work environments with body-conscious
factors of holistic health have been identified furniture, equipment and workstations, as
and investigated in this study: biophilia: well as exercise space and equipment. As
peoples’ love and affiliation with other species these particular workplace environments
and the natural environment; ergonomics: possess elements of the factors biophilia,
the relationship between the human body, ergonomics and exercise, this thus all three
movement, the immediate environment and factors are considered preferrerences in the
productivity; and exercise: exertion of the workplaces of these case studies. Furthermore,
body to obtain physical fitness. factors that were said to contribute to Elements of holistic
personal productivity in the workplace were health factors
Research on the holistic health factors found as well as sacrifices that participants
of this research topic supports the idea that stated they would be willing to make in
interaction with other species can be healing, order to implement their preferred work
ergonomic body-conscious furniture and environment(s). In addition, this study found
equipment increase productivity, limit body average miles walked by participants in each
aches, pains and health costs; and exercise workplace as well as existing incentives and
stimulates the mind and body, increasing descriptions of ideal work environments.
productivity.
Implications of this research study engross
This study has been conducted primarily interior design, industrial design and fashion
with qualitative and flexible research design. Major design implications involve
approaches using observation, survey, accommodating workplaces to provide
interview and pedometer readings as personnel with opportunities for holistic health
methods for data collection. Two small in working environments. More specific
corporate franchise financial institutions and implications of office related design involve
two small private healthcare providers from providing access to natural environments,
both Arizona and Georgia, participated in this body-conscious equipment and spaces,
study. Each office volunteered one employer as well as opportunities for exercise and
and two employee participants. social interaction. These were exposed as
prerequisites for cognitive, social and physical
4.22.2011
Of the holistic health factors considered in health.
these four case studies, this study discovered
that a majority of participants equally valued
emotional health, physical health and social

2. april.p.mcewan@gmail.com
Primary Research Approach Method Strategy Data Analysis Primary Significant Findings
Questions
1. Of the holistic health qualitative literature flexible qualitative statistical & Research
factors—biophilia, & review, & case & thematic Questions
ergonomics and quantitative, survey, study quantitative Q. 1 A majority, ten participants, equally valued emotional health, physical
exercise—considered in rapid observation
the workplace, which are ethnography & health, social health, and spiritual health. Three participants valued
valued by employees and interview emotional health over the physical, social, and spiritual health,
employers in the believing all other health follows emotional health; therefore, biophilia,
workplace?
ergonomics and exercise were all considered to be valuable to all
2. Of the holistic health qualitative literature flexible qualitative statistical &
factors—biophilia, & review, & case & thematic participants. A majority of participants, eight out of thirteen
ergonomics and quantitative survey study quantitative participants, preferred to work in a workplace environment with
exercise—considered in exercise space and equipment, serene natural environment with
the workplace, which are
considered by employees outdoor space, and body-conscious furniture, equipment and
and employers to be the workstations.
most significant Q. 2 The most popular answer choices to survey question #37 yeilded a
contributors to
productivity in the finding representing 84.62% of participants who believed “freedom to
workplace? move between one social phase and another (from solitary work to
3. Of the holistic health qualitative literature flexible qualitative statistical & group interaction)” and “music” contributed or would contribute to
factors—biophilia, & review, & case & thematic their personal levels of productivity in the workplace.
ergonomics and quantitative, survey & study quantitative
exercise—considered in rapid interview Q. 3 A majority of participants, seven participants, felt their workplace
the workplace, which are ethnography lacked “opportunity for regular exercise”. No participants felt that their
considered by employees
and employers to be the
workplace lacked “meaningful change and sensory variability”.
most significant Q. 4 69.23% of participants were unwilling to sacrifice vacation time, hours,
contributors to well- or salary or pay cuts in order to implement their preferred work
being in the workplace?
environment(s). 30.77% of participants were willing to sacrifice their
4. At what economic cost qualitative literature flexible qualitative statistical &
are employees and & review, & case thematic hours in order to implement their preferred work environment(s).
employers willing to quantitative, survey & study Secondary
implement their flexible interview Research
preference of holistic
health factor(s) into their Questions
place of work? Q. A Participants were recorded through pedometer readings to walk from
Secondary Research the least mileage of .33 miles per average work day to the most
Questions
A. How much does each qualitative survey, flexible qualitative statistical &
mileage of 2.66 miles per average work day.
worker currently walk & observation & case & thematic Q. B Three of thirteen participants claimed their employers provided
during a typical work quantitative, & study quantitative ergonomic furniture and equipment in the workplace. No health
day? rapid pedometer
ethnography reading
programs or incentives were in place in any of the four offices for
B. What holistic health qualitative literature flexible qualitative statistical & exercise, weight management, alternate transportation to and from
programs or incentives & review, & case thematic work, or pet friendly behaviors.
are currently in place? quantitative, survey & study
rapid interview
Q. C When asked to express their ideal workspaces, participants expressed
ethnography both extreme idealistic work environments and minor adjustments to
their existing workplaces. Such ideals included: plants, animals,
4.22.2011
C. What are ideal work qualitative literature flexible qualitative statistical &
environments? & review, & case thematic window, lighting, space, furniture, art, personal items, environment,
quantitative, survey & study
rapid interview color, exercise, food, and other.
ethnography