Investigating the joint effects of overload and underload on chronic fatigue and wellbeing

Workers in safety critical and 24-hour operating environments face sustained exposure to many stressful situations, ranging from long periods of monotony and boredom, to sudden periods of intense time pressure. This study examines how the combination of overload and underload contributes to fatigue...

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Main Authors: Cham, Belinda, Andrei, Daniela, Griffin, Mark, Grech, M., Neal, A.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2021
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/83410
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author Cham, Belinda
Andrei, Daniela
Griffin, Mark
Grech, M.
Neal, A.
author_facet Cham, Belinda
Andrei, Daniela
Griffin, Mark
Grech, M.
Neal, A.
author_sort Cham, Belinda
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Workers in safety critical and 24-hour operating environments face sustained exposure to many stressful situations, ranging from long periods of monotony and boredom, to sudden periods of intense time pressure. This study examines how the combination of overload and underload contributes to fatigue and wellbeing in 943 seafarers. Using latent moderated structural equation modelling, we found that underload showed a stronger association with chronic fatigue and impaired wellbeing, compared to overload. An interaction between overload and underload was also significantly related to psychological wellbeing, with increasing levels of overload weakening the negative relationship between underload and psychological wellbeing. Our research highlights that underload, despite previously not receiving much attention, is an important area of concern. Our findings also underscore the importance of unpacking the joint effects of concurrent job demands, and to consider how certain job demands may help to reduce the negative effects caused by other demands. Where current and future jobs may be subject to a reduction in demands (e.g. automation), it is important to consider how underload may impact worker fatigue and wellbeing.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-834102022-03-30T07:47:25Z Investigating the joint effects of overload and underload on chronic fatigue and wellbeing Cham, Belinda Andrei, Daniela Griffin, Mark Grech, M. Neal, A. Workers in safety critical and 24-hour operating environments face sustained exposure to many stressful situations, ranging from long periods of monotony and boredom, to sudden periods of intense time pressure. This study examines how the combination of overload and underload contributes to fatigue and wellbeing in 943 seafarers. Using latent moderated structural equation modelling, we found that underload showed a stronger association with chronic fatigue and impaired wellbeing, compared to overload. An interaction between overload and underload was also significantly related to psychological wellbeing, with increasing levels of overload weakening the negative relationship between underload and psychological wellbeing. Our research highlights that underload, despite previously not receiving much attention, is an important area of concern. Our findings also underscore the importance of unpacking the joint effects of concurrent job demands, and to consider how certain job demands may help to reduce the negative effects caused by other demands. Where current and future jobs may be subject to a reduction in demands (e.g. automation), it is important to consider how underload may impact worker fatigue and wellbeing. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/83410 10.1080/02678373.2021.1888822 fulltext
spellingShingle Cham, Belinda
Andrei, Daniela
Griffin, Mark
Grech, M.
Neal, A.
Investigating the joint effects of overload and underload on chronic fatigue and wellbeing
title Investigating the joint effects of overload and underload on chronic fatigue and wellbeing
title_full Investigating the joint effects of overload and underload on chronic fatigue and wellbeing
title_fullStr Investigating the joint effects of overload and underload on chronic fatigue and wellbeing
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the joint effects of overload and underload on chronic fatigue and wellbeing
title_short Investigating the joint effects of overload and underload on chronic fatigue and wellbeing
title_sort investigating the joint effects of overload and underload on chronic fatigue and wellbeing
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/83410