Monotonous work has been analyzed from sociological and social psychological perspectives in terms of consequences for job satisfaction, life satisfaction, leisure activities, and health. In this article, a distinction is made between repetitive and uneventful monotony. Psychobiological reactions to these tasks are analyzed and related to possible long-term consequences for health. Strategies for work reform required for the two types of monotony are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
WalkerC. R.GuestR. H.Man on the Assembly Line. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1952.
2.
GardellB.Alienation and mental health in the modern industrial environment. In Society, Stress and Disease, Vol. I: The Psychosocial Environment and Psychosomatic Diseases, edited by LeviL., pp. 148–180. Oxford University Press, London, 1971.
3.
VolpertW.Psychische Regulation von Arbeitstätigkeiten. (Mental regulation of work behavior.) In Enzyklopädie der Psychologie, edited by RutenfranzJ.KleinbeckU., Hogrefe, Göttingen, 1986.
4.
KohnM.SchoolerC.Work and Personality. Ablex, Norwood, N.J., 1983.
5.
ConradR.Letter sorting machines-paced, “lagged” or unpaced?Ergonomics3: 149–157, 1960.
HagbergM.Occupational Shoulder and Neck Disorders. The Swedish Work Environment Fund, Stockholm, 1987.
8.
FrankenhaeuserM.GardellB.Underload and overload in working life. A multidisciplinary approach. J. Hum Stress2: 35–46, 1976.
9.
JohnsonJ. V.The Impact of Workplace Social Support, Job Demands and Work Control upon Cardiovascular Disease in Sweden. Doctoral dissertation. Reports from the Division of Environmental and Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Stockholm, 1986.
10.
TheorellT.Stress at work and risk of myocardial infarction. Postgrad. Med. J.62: 791–795, 1986.
11.
EdwardsE.LeesF. P. (eds.). The Human Operator in Process Control. Taylor and Francis, London, 1974.
12.
BainbridgeL.The process controller. In The Analysis of Practical Skills, edited by SingletonW. T., pp. 236–292. MTP Press, Lancashire, 1978.
13.
JohanssonG.Stress, autonomy and the maintenance of skill in supervisory control of automated systems. Appl. Psychol. Int. Rev.38: 45–56, 1989.
14.
ThackrayR. I.The stress of boredom and monotony: A consideration of the evidence. Psychosom. Med.43: 165–176, 1981.
15.
DaviesD. R.ShackletonV. J.ParasuramanR.Monotony and boredom. In Stress and Fatigue in Human Performance, edited by HockeyG. R. J., pp. 1–32. Wiley, Chichester, 1983.
16.
O'HanlonJ. F.Boredom: Practical consequences and a theory. Acta Psychol. 49: 53–82, 1981.
17.
CaplanR.Job Demands and Worker Health. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HEW Publication No. (NIOSH), 75–160, Washington, D.C., 1975.
18.
AppleyM. H.TrumbullR. (eds.). Dynamics of Stress. Physiological, Psychological, and Social Perspectives. Plenum, New York, 1986.
19.
ElliottG. R.EisdorferC. (eds.). Stress and Human Health. Analysis and Implications of Research. A study by the Institute of Medicine/National Academy of Sciences. Springer, New York, 1982.
20.
QuickJ.-C. (eds.). Work Stress. Health Care Systems in the Workplace. Praeger, New York, 1987.
21.
FrankenhaeuserM.A psychobiological framework for research on human stress and coping. In Dynamics of Stress. Physiological, Psychological and Social Perspectives, edited by AppleyM. H.TrumbullR., pp. 101–116. Plenum, New York, 1986.
22.
KarasekR.Job decision latitude, job demands and cardiovascular disease: A prospective study of Swedish men. Am, J. Public Health71: 694–705, 1981.
23.
TimioM.GentiliS.Adrenosympathetic overactivity under conditions of work stress. Br. J. Prev. Soc. Med.30: 262–265, 1976.
24.
TimioM.GentiliS.PedeS.Free adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion related to occupational stress. Br. Heart J. 42: 471–474, 1979.
25.
Borsch-GaletkeE.Katekolaminausscheidung bei Feinwerkerinnen mit und ohne Akkordarbeit. Zentralbl. Arbeitsmed.27: 53–58, 1977.
26.
JohanssonG.AronssonG.LindströmB. O.Social psychological and neuroendocrine stress reactions in highly mechanized work. Ergonomics21: 583–599, 1978.
27.
WeberA.Psychophysiological effects of paced and repetitive tasks. Ergonomics23(11): 1033–1046, 1980.
28.
JohanssonG.Psychoneuroendocrine correlates of unpaced and paced performance. In Machine Pacing and Occupational Stress, edited by SalvendyG.SmithM. J., pp. 277–286. Taylor and Francis, London, 1981.
29.
CoxS.Effects of simulated repetitive work on urinary catecholamine excretion. Ergonomics25: 1129–1141, 1982.
30.
MackworthN. H.Researches on the Measurement of Human Performance. Medical Research Council Special Report, No. 268. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1950.
31.
FrankenhaeuserM.JohanssonG.On the psychophysiological consequences of understimulation and overstimulation. In Society, Stress, and Disease, Vol. IV: Working Life, edited by LeviL., pp. 82–89. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1981.
32.
DaviesD. R.ParasuramanR.The Psychology of Vigilance. Academic Press, London, 1982.
33.
JohanssonG.SandénP.-O.Mental load and job satisfaction of control room operators. Reports from the Department of Psychology, University of Stockholm, Stockholm, 1989. (In press.)
34.
FrankenhaeuserM.The role of peripheral catecholamines in adaptation to understimulation and overstimulation. In Psychopathology of Human Adaptation, edited by SerbanG., pp. 173–191. Plenum, New York, 1976.
35.
LundbergU.FrankenhaeuserM.Pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic-adrenal correlates of distress and effort. J. Psychosom. Res.24: 125–130, 1980.
36.
JohanssonG.CavaliniP.PetterssonP.Psychobiological reactions to unpredictable performance stress in a monotonous situation. Reports from the Department of Psychology, No. 646. University of Stockholm, Stockholm, 1986.
37.
BravermanH.Labor and Monopoly Capital. Monthly Review Press, New York, 1974.
38.
AgurénS.EdgrenJ.New Factories. The Swedish Employers Confederation, Stockholm, 1980.
39.
AgurénS.Volvo Kalmar Revisited: Ten Years of Experience. Efficiency and Participation Development Council, SAF/LO/PTK, Stockholm, 1985.
40.
Kvinno- och mansvärlden. (The World of Women and Men 1986. Equal Opportunity in Sweden.)Statistics Sweden, Stockholm, 1986.
