title: Variation at work: alternations between physically and mentally demanding tasks in blue-collar occupations.
abstract: The aims of this questionnaire study were to describe the occurrence and desired number of alternations between mental and physical tasks in industrial and non-industrial blue-collar work, and determine to which extent selected personal and occupational factors influence these conditions. On average, the 122 participating workers (55 females) reported to have close to four alternations per day between mental and physical tasks, and to desire more alternations than they actually had. They also expressed a general preference for performing a physical task after a mental task and vice versa. In univariate regression models, the desired change in task alternations was significantly associated with gender, age, occupation, years with current work tasks and perceived job control, while occupation was the only significant determinant in a multiple regression model including all factors. Our results suggest that alternations between productive physical and mental tasks could be a viable option in future job rotation. Practitioner Summary: We addressed attitudes among blue-collar workers to alternations between physically and mentally demanding tasks. More alternations were desired than those occurring in the job, and workers preferred performing a physical task after a mental and vice versa. Alternating physical and mental tasks could, thus, be a viable option in job rotation.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences , University of Gävle , Gävle , Sweden.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6668-5044
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jahncke
authors.affiliation: b Department of Building, Energy, and Environmental Engineering , University of Gävle , Gävle , Sweden.
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4298-7459
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hygge
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences , University of Gävle , Gävle , Sweden.
authors.forename: Svend Erik
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1443-6211
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mathiassen
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences , University of Gävle , Gävle , Sweden.
authors.forename: David
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2741-1868
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hallman
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences , University of Gävle , Gävle , Sweden.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mixter
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences , University of Gävle , Gävle , Sweden.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4094-3391
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lyskov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D010465:Perception; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014937:Work / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Cognitive task; job rotation; pause; physical variation; repetitive work