Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior, particularly prolonged sitting, is a significant global public health issue. However, comprehensive population-level temporal trends on sitting time are sparse, hampering effective monitoring and policy development. This study aims to examine temporal trends and correlates of overall and domain-specific sitting time among the adult population in Germany from 2014 to 2023. METHODS: Data were obtained from five cross-sectional, population-representative telephone surveys conducted in Germany in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2023, comprising a total of N = 14,417 adults aged 18 years and older. Participants completed the domain-specific Marshall Sitting Questionnaire, reporting sitting time across five domains: transport, work, television viewing, leisure-time electronic media use, and other leisure activities. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were performed to examine time trends and sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates, with all results presented as mean estimates and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2023, average overall weekday sitting time increased by 76 minutes per weekday, rising from 457 to 533 minutes. The most pronounced relative increases were observed in work-related (42%) and leisure-time electronic media use (31%). The prevalence of high sitting time (>8 hours/weekday) rose from 42% in 2014 to 55% in 2023. Regression analyses indicated that men (31.8 minutes/weekday, 95% CI: 22.5, 41.1), younger adults (-2.3, 95% CI: -2.5, -2.0), individuals with higher education (57.1, 95% CI: 43.8, 70.4) and income levels (41.7, 95% CI: 25.9, 57.5), and urban residents (21.5, 95% CI: 8.7, 34.2) had significantly longer overall sitting times compared to women, older adults, individuals with lower education and income, and those living in rural areas, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal trends from Germany indicate a substantial increase in both overall and domain-specific sitting time between 2014 and 2023, predominantly driven by work-related and screen-based leisure activities. These findings underscore the urgent need for public health strategies aimed at reducing prolonged sitting, particularly in work and leisure contexts. Targeted population-specific and context-sensitive interventions are increasingly needed to mitigate the rise in overall and domain-specific sitting time. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-025-26005-9.