Self-reported indoor climate in shared vs. private offices and its effects on headache and respiratory symptoms in Norwegian office workers
This two-wave cross-sectional study analyzed data from 7968 Norwegian office workers collected in 2016 and 2019 to investigate associations among self-reported indoor climate, headaches, and respiratory symptoms across six office types. Interaction effects between office type, indoor climate, and he...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Indoor Environments |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950362025000475 |
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| author | Therese Nitter Moazami Tom Sterud |
| author_facet | Therese Nitter Moazami Tom Sterud |
| author_sort | Therese Nitter Moazami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This two-wave cross-sectional study analyzed data from 7968 Norwegian office workers collected in 2016 and 2019 to investigate associations among self-reported indoor climate, headaches, and respiratory symptoms across six office types. Interaction effects between office type, indoor climate, and health outcomes were assessed, alongside a mediation analysis examining indoor climate as a mediator between office type and health outcomes. Adjusted generalized linear models (GLMs) revealed that shared offices had significantly poorer indoor climate conditions than private offices, with the highest odds reported in flexible spaces (OR = 1.72, 95 % CI: 1.41–2.09) and offices with over 24 occupants (OR = 1.57, 95 % CI: 1.27–1.93). Self-reported poor indoor climate was associated with respiratory symptoms (OR = 2.17, 95 % CI: 1.74–2.27) and headaches (OR = 1.66, 95 % CI: 1.48 – 1.86). No direct association was found between office type and health outcomes; however, mediation analysis demonstrated a significant indirect effect of office type on health outcomes via indoor climate. Interaction analysis further revealed that the association between poor indoor climate and respiratory symptoms was stronger in shared offices compared to cell offices for both respiratory symptoms (OR = 2.32 vs. OR = 1.80) and headaches (OR = 1.69 vs. OR = 1.44). In conclusion, this study demonstrates notable associations between office type, perceived indoor climate, and self-reported health outcomes. While the cross-sectional design limits the ability to determine the direction or underlying mechanisms of these associations, the results emphasize the relevance of both office layout and indoor climate quality in evaluating workplace health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-44f9e786648143f780db154ccdcb2d24 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2950-3620 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indoor Environments |
| spelling | doaj-art-44f9e786648143f780db154ccdcb2d242025-08-24T05:15:42ZengElsevierIndoor Environments2950-36202025-09-012310011810.1016/j.indenv.2025.100118Self-reported indoor climate in shared vs. private offices and its effects on headache and respiratory symptoms in Norwegian office workersTherese Nitter Moazami0Tom Sterud1Department of Occupational Health Surveillance (NOA), The National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Oslo, Norway; Department of Built Environment, Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), Oslo, Norway; Correspondence to: Pilestredet 35, Oslo 0166, NorwayDepartment of Occupational Health Surveillance (NOA), The National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Oslo, NorwayThis two-wave cross-sectional study analyzed data from 7968 Norwegian office workers collected in 2016 and 2019 to investigate associations among self-reported indoor climate, headaches, and respiratory symptoms across six office types. Interaction effects between office type, indoor climate, and health outcomes were assessed, alongside a mediation analysis examining indoor climate as a mediator between office type and health outcomes. Adjusted generalized linear models (GLMs) revealed that shared offices had significantly poorer indoor climate conditions than private offices, with the highest odds reported in flexible spaces (OR = 1.72, 95 % CI: 1.41–2.09) and offices with over 24 occupants (OR = 1.57, 95 % CI: 1.27–1.93). Self-reported poor indoor climate was associated with respiratory symptoms (OR = 2.17, 95 % CI: 1.74–2.27) and headaches (OR = 1.66, 95 % CI: 1.48 – 1.86). No direct association was found between office type and health outcomes; however, mediation analysis demonstrated a significant indirect effect of office type on health outcomes via indoor climate. Interaction analysis further revealed that the association between poor indoor climate and respiratory symptoms was stronger in shared offices compared to cell offices for both respiratory symptoms (OR = 2.32 vs. OR = 1.80) and headaches (OR = 1.69 vs. OR = 1.44). In conclusion, this study demonstrates notable associations between office type, perceived indoor climate, and self-reported health outcomes. While the cross-sectional design limits the ability to determine the direction or underlying mechanisms of these associations, the results emphasize the relevance of both office layout and indoor climate quality in evaluating workplace health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950362025000475Indoor climateOffice typesHeadachesRespiratory symptomsInteractionMediation |
| spellingShingle | Therese Nitter Moazami Tom Sterud Self-reported indoor climate in shared vs. private offices and its effects on headache and respiratory symptoms in Norwegian office workers Indoor Environments Indoor climate Office types Headaches Respiratory symptoms Interaction Mediation |
| title | Self-reported indoor climate in shared vs. private offices and its effects on headache and respiratory symptoms in Norwegian office workers |
| title_full | Self-reported indoor climate in shared vs. private offices and its effects on headache and respiratory symptoms in Norwegian office workers |
| title_fullStr | Self-reported indoor climate in shared vs. private offices and its effects on headache and respiratory symptoms in Norwegian office workers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-reported indoor climate in shared vs. private offices and its effects on headache and respiratory symptoms in Norwegian office workers |
| title_short | Self-reported indoor climate in shared vs. private offices and its effects on headache and respiratory symptoms in Norwegian office workers |
| title_sort | self reported indoor climate in shared vs private offices and its effects on headache and respiratory symptoms in norwegian office workers |
| topic | Indoor climate Office types Headaches Respiratory symptoms Interaction Mediation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950362025000475 |
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