title: Cognitive task demands, self-control demands and the mental well-being of office workers.
abstract: The cognitive task demands of office workers and the self-control demands of their work roles were measured in a sample of 196 employees in two different office layouts using a self-report questionnaire, which was circulated electronically. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that both factors were associated with mental well-being, but not with physical well-being, while controlling for exposure to psychosocial stressors. The interaction between cognitive task demands and self-control demands had the strongest association with mental well-being, suggesting that the deleterious effect of one was greater when the other was present. An exploratory analysis revealed that the association was stronger for employees working in a large open-plan office than for those working in smaller offices with more privacy. Frustration of work goals was the cognitive task demand having the strongest negative impact on mental well-being. Methodological limitations and scale psychometrics (particularly the use of the NASA Task Load Index) are discussed. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: Modern office work has high mental demands and low physical demands and there is a need to design offices to prevent adverse psychological reactions. It is shown that cognitive task demands interact with self-control demands to degrade mental well-being. The association was stronger in an open-plan office.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, PO12 2DL, UK. Bob.Bridger300@mod.uk
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bridger
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brasher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace