Physical and meditative activities at work

This thesis focusses on vitality which aims to reduce or prevent work-related stress through physical and meditative activities (PMA). Scientific evidence is cautiously positive on the attributed beneficial effects of PMA for stress reduction. Meta-analysis studies show small to moderate effects for some, but certainly not all individuals. It could therefore be more adequate to study the meaning of PMA for employees who experience work-related stress. This study does so by a holistic approach which takes the perspectives of employees and professionals with an occupational responsibility to reduce work-related stress into account. Methodological pluralism and a case study research design can contribute to previous research by studying the socially constructed meaning that PMA and work-related stress have for employees. The main research question is therefore formulated as; how can physical and meditative activities be meaningful for employees in an educational institute who experience work-related stress?