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An Experimental Field-Study on Active and Passive Work Breaks in a Stressful Work Environment
(2017)
Work breaks are known to have positive effects on employees’ health, performance, and safety. However, prior research has focused mainly on their timing, duration, and frequency but less on break activities. Moreover, most studies examined work breaks in rather repetitive and physical demanding work. Thus, we conducted an experimental field study with a sample of employees’ working in a stressful and cognitive demanding working environment and examined how different types of work breaks (boxing, deep relaxation, and usual breaks) affect participants’ mood, cognitive performance, and neuro-physiological state.
Im Zusammenhang mit der Rhythmisierung des Schulalltags spielen Pausen eine wichtige Rolle. Dass Pausen für die Regeneration und Wiederherstellung der Leistungsfähigkeit bedeutsam sind, scheint allgemein anerkannt. Die Autoren fassen im folgenden Beitrag zusammen, welche wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse es über die Effekte der Gestaltung und der Dauer von Pausen gibt.
Work breaks are known to have positive effects on employees' health, performance and safety. Using a sample of twelve employees working in a stressful and cognitively demanding working environment, this experimental field study examined how different types of work breaks (boxing, deep relaxation and usual breaks) affect participants' mood, cognitive performance and neurophysiological state compared to a control condition without any break. In a repeated measures experimental design, cognitive performance was assessed using an auditory oddball test and a Movement Detection Test. Brain cortical activity was recorded using electroencephalography. Individual's mood was analysed using a profile of mood state. Although neurophysiological data showed improved relaxation of cortical state after boxing (vs. 'no break' and 'deep relaxation'), neither performance nor mood assessment showed similar results. It remains questionable whether there is a universal work break type that has beneficial effects for all individuals. Practitioner Summary: Research on work breaks and their positive effects on employees' health and performance often disregards break activities. This experimental field study in a stressful working environment investigated the effect of different work break activities. A universal work break type that is beneficial for this workplace could not be identified.
Langes und andauerndes Sitzen sowie genereller Bewegungsmangel am Arbeitsplatz und in der Freizeit führen oft zu teilweise schwerwiegenden Erkrankungen von Arbeitnehmern. Durch niedrigschwellige Angebote und Sensibilisierung können Arbeitgeber einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Steigerung der körperlichen Aktivität ihrer Mitarbeiter leisten und positiv auf die Gesundheit dieser einwirken. Dieser Artikel veranschaulicht, welche positiven Effekte für Arbeitgeber und Arbeitnehmer durch zusätzliche aktivitätsfördernde Angebote entstehen und wie solche Angebote ohne großen Aufwand in den Arbeitsalltag integriert werden können.
Wissenschaft trifft Praxis
(2017)
The number of studies on work breaks and the importance of this subject is growing rapidly, with research showing that work breaks increase employees’ wellbeing and performance and workplace safety. However, comparing the results of work break research is difficult since the study designs and methods are heterogeneous and there is no standard theoretical model for work breaks. Based on a systematic literature search, this scoping review included a total of 93 studies on experimental work break research conducted over the last 30 years. This scoping review provides a first structured evaluation regarding the underlying theoretical framework, the variables investigated, and the measurement methods applied. Studies using a combination of measurement methods from the categories “self-report measures,” “performance measures,” and “physiological measures” are most common and to be preferred in work break research. This overview supplies important information for ergonomics researchers allowing them to design work break studies with a more structured and stronger theory-based approach. A standard theoretical model for work breaks is needed in order to further increase the comparability of studies in the field of experimental work break research in the future.
