Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Faculty and Staff Wellness Assessment

Abstract

Background: There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the benefits that employee wellness programs have on businesses or institutions that have them. These benefits include, but are not limited to: employee retention, morale, and general health. The purpose of this study was to assess the current health status, behaviors, and opinions held by the faculty and staff of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) to determine whether or not there was a need for an employee wellness program. Methods: Working in conjunction with the campus recreation center, a survey was developed and sent out via Qualtrics (QualtricsXM, Provo, UT, 2019) to the faculty and staff of MTSU in April 2019. Responses were analyzed and described using SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics 24, Armonk, NY, 2016) to explore frequencies and cross tabulations. Results: The survey received 259 responses for a 12% response rate. Based on results of the survey, the majority of MTSU’s staff (67%) have either an overweight or obese body mass index (BMI) rating. The biggest barriers to exercise were found to be time (51%) and finding the motivation to exercise (24%). An overwhelming majority (84%) of respondents did believe that a Faculty/Staff wellness program would be beneficial to MTSU. Discussion: Given the thoughts of MTSU’s faculty and staff as well as the growing body of evidence surrounding the benefits of employee wellness programs, this study supports the implementation of an employee wellness program at MTSU. Such a wellness program could include health services, both physical and mental, a recreation center, and additional programs or incentives that encourage use of such facilities and programs. With these services currently offered to MTSU students, there would be minimal investment in these services to expand them to the faculty and staff to receive the benefits of what employee wellness programs offer.