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Lee SH, Kim AR, Lee J. Effects of noise exposure on stress hormone changes during task performance in young Korean men: quasi-experimental study. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2024; 87:605-615. [PMID: 38721994 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2024.2352122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Numerous studies have suggested that noise exposure might be associated with changes in stress hormone levels. However, quantitative evidence for these effects in humans is rare and remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of exposure to noise and its different levels on stress hormone changes in task performance. Quasi-experimental noise exposure environment was established for 90 male university student volunteers in their twenties, and each was exposed to different noise levels during task performance. The stress hormones tested included cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), adrenaline, and noradrenaline. A one-way ANOVA was performed to investigate differences in hormone levels measured in the three groups according to the noise exposure levels (35, 45, or 75 dB). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to adjust for confounding factors that might affect hormone levels. After adjusting for confounders, significant exposure-dependent differences were found in hormone levels in salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, serum ACTH, and serum adrenaline. The amount of hormonal increase in 75 dB exposure group compared to 35 or 45 dB groups was detected. Similar results were also seen in the rate of change analysis. Our findings indicate that short-term noise exposure during task performance elevates stress hormone levels. Further, the extent of stress hormone alterations varies with noise exposure levels. Changes in hormone levels are an objective measure that may be used to identify health effects and stress responses in various noise environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Hee Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - A-Ram Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - Jiho Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
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Radun J, Maula H, Tervahartiala IK, Rajala V, Schlittmeier S, Hongisto V. The effects of irrelevant speech on physiological stress, cognitive performance, and subjective experience - Focus on heart rate variability. Int J Psychophysiol 2024; 200:112352. [PMID: 38641017 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2024.112352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Irrelevant speech impairs cognitive performance, especially in tasks requiring verbal short-term memory. Working on these tasks during irrelevant speech can also cause a physiological stress reaction. The aim of this study was to examine heart rate variability (HRV) as a non-invasive and easy-to-use stress measure in an irrelevant speech paradigm. Thirty participants performed cognitive tasks (n-back and serial recall) during two sound conditions: irrelevant speech (50 dB) and quiet (33 dB steady-state noise). The influence of conditions as well as presentation orders of conditions were examined on performance, subjective experience, and physiological stress. Working during irrelevant speech compared to working during quiet reduced performance, namely accuracy, in the serial recall task. It was more annoying, heightened the perceived workload, and lowered acoustic satisfaction. It was related to higher physiological stress by causing faster heart rate and changes in HRV frequency-domain analysis (LF, HF and LF/HF). The order of conditions showed some additional effects. When speech was the first condition, 3-back performance was less accurate, and serial recall response times were longer, heart rate was faster, and successive heart beats had less variability (lower RMSSD) during speech than during quiet. When quiet was the first condition, heart rate was faster and reaction times in 3-back were slower during quiet than during speech. The negative effect of irrelevant speech was clear in experience, performance, and physiological stress. The study shows that HRV can be used as a physiological stress measure in irrelevant speech studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni Radun
- Psychophysics Laboratory, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland.
| | - Henna Maula
- Psychophysics Laboratory, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Ville Rajala
- Psychophysics Laboratory, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Valtteri Hongisto
- Psychophysics Laboratory, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland
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Zhang C, Wang J, Wang H, Zhang H. Surveillance of noise exposure level in industrial enterprises-Jiangsu Province, China, 2022. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1230481. [PMID: 38410664 PMCID: PMC10894969 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1230481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Occupational noise exposure is the most prominent problem in industrial enterprises in Jiangsu Province. Since 2019, China has established the National Surveillance System for Occupational Hazards in the workplace to grasp the current occupational hazards in critical industries, including occupational noise. According to the Work Plan for Surveillance of Occupational Hazards in the Workplace (2022) issued by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, the noise exposure level of 3,142 enterprises in our province was monitored, the median and interquartile range (IQR) were calculated, and the distribution of noise exposure level was described by industry classification, enterprise-scale and ownership type of the enterprise. The railway, shipping, aerospace, and other transportation equipment manufacturing industries exhibited the highest proportion (42.9%) of individual noise exposure levels exceeding 85 dB(A), followed by the motor vehicles manufacturing industry (36.4%). The proportion of individual noise exposure levels exceeding 85 dB(A) was higher in medium and small enterprises, with rates of 28.1 and 28.6%, respectively. The highest proportion of personal noise exposure levels exceeding 85 dB(A) was observed in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan investment enterprises (37.5%), followed by incorporated companies (34.6%) and limited liability companies (28.1%), the lowest was state-owned enterprises(15.5%). The areas with excessive noise are primarily concentrated in grinding, welding, machining, cutting, and other related operations, accounting for 61.2% of the total. Among these operations, grinding accounts for 29.8%. The highest environmental noise and individual noise intensity were found in sandblasting and grinding positions, with individual noise intensities of 115.5 dB(A) and 108.4 dB(A), respectively. The noise exposure risk is so high that cannot be ignored in the manufacturing industry, especially in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan investment enterprises, incorporated companies and medium and small enterprises.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jianfeng Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China
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Lee Y, Lee S, Lee W. Occupational and Environmental Noise Exposure and Extra-Auditory Effects on Humans: A Systematic Literature Review. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2023GH000805. [PMID: 37303697 PMCID: PMC10248481 DOI: 10.1029/2023gh000805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Noise is a common harmful factor in our work and the environment. Most studies have investigated the auditory effects of noise exposure; however, few studies have focused on the extra-auditory effects of exposure to occupational or environmental noise. This study aimed to systematically review published studies on the extra-auditory effects of noise exposure. We reviewed literature from PubMed and Google Scholar databases up to July 2022, using the Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome criteria and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify studies that reported extra-auditory effects of occupational or environmental noise exposure. Studies were evaluated utilizing validated reporting tools (CONSORT, STROBE) appropriate to study design. A total of 263 articles were identified, of which 36 were finally selected and reviewed. Upon conducting a review of the articles, exposure to noise can elicit a variety of extra-auditory effects on humans. These effects include circulatory effects linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease and decreased endothelial function, nervous system effects correlated with sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and mental health problems, immunological and endocrinal effects connected to increased physiological stress response and metabolic disorders, oncological and respiratory effects associated with an elevated risk of acoustic neuroma and respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal effects linked to an increased risk of gastric or duodenal ulcer, and obstetric effects connected to the risk of preterm birth. Our review suggests that there are numerous extra-auditory effects of noise exposure on human, and further investigations are needed to fully understand these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongho Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental MedicineGil Medical CenterIncheonRepublic of Korea
| | - Seunghyun Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental MedicineGachon University College of MedicineIncheonRepublic of Korea
| | - Wanhyung Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental MedicineGil Medical CenterIncheonRepublic of Korea
- Department of Occupational and Environmental MedicineGachon University College of MedicineIncheonRepublic of Korea
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Weber C, Golding SE, Yarker J, Teoh K, Lewis R, Ratcliffe E, Munir F, Wheele T, Windlinger L. Work fatigue during COVID-19 lockdown teleworking: the role of psychosocial, environmental, and social working conditions. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1155118. [PMID: 37260958 PMCID: PMC10228694 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1155118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During national lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, previously office-based workers who transitioned to home-based teleworking faced additional demands (e.g., childcare, inadequate homeworking spaces) likely resulting in poor work privacy fit. Previous office research suggests poor work privacy fit is associated with lower wellbeing and higher work fatigue. Emerging evidence suggests a relationship between childcare duties during pandemic teleworking and work fatigue. In addition to psychosocial working conditions (job demand, job control, and job change management), which are acknowledged predictors of work fatigue, this poses a significant threat to occupational health during pandemic teleworking. However, the relative effects of aspects of the psychosocial environment (job demands and resources), the home office environment (including privacy fit), and the social environment (childcare) on work fatigue as well as their interactions are under-explored. Objective This study examined the relationships between the psychosocial, environmental, and social working conditions of teleworking during the first COVID-19 lockdown and work fatigue. Specifically, the study examined teleworkers' physical work environment (e.g., if and how home office space is shared, crowding, and noise perceptions) as predictors of privacy fit and the relationship between privacy fit, childcare, psychosocial working conditions (job demand, job control, and job change management), and work fatigue. Work privacy fit was hypothesized to mediate the relationship between childcare and work fatigue. Methods An online cross-sectional survey was conducted with teleworkers (n = 300) during the first COVID-19 lockdown in April and May 2020; most participants were in Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Results Path analysis was used to examine the hypothesized relationships. Privacy fit was lower for those reporting greater levels of noise in home-working spaces and those feeling crowded at home. Work fatigue was lower amongst those with greater privacy fit and higher amongst those with high levels of job demand. An indirect relationship was observed between childcare and work fatigue with privacy fit mediating this relationship. Conclusion The influence of privacy fit has so far been largely neglected in research on teleworking, especially during the pandemic. However, its contribution to workers' wellbeing should be acknowledged in occupational health strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Weber
- Institute of Facility Management, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E. Golding
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Yarker
- Department of Organisational Psychology, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Teoh
- Department of Organisational Psychology, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Lewis
- Department of Organisational Psychology, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Ratcliffe
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Fehmidah Munir
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Theresa Wheele
- Institute of Facility Management, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Windlinger
- Institute of Facility Management, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
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Zahmat Doost E, Zhang W. Mental workload variations during different cognitive office tasks with social media interruptions. ERGONOMICS 2023; 66:592-608. [PMID: 35856248 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2022.2104381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Interruption at work by social media (SM) is a pervasive phenomenon. This study investigated the impact of SM interruptions and task cognitive levels on mental workload (MWL) and physiological indexes. Each subject performed six simulated computer tasks differentiated by two factors: task cognitive level and performing condition. MWL was reflected through three categories of data: perceived mental workload, physiological indexes, and primary task performance. The results revealed significant effects of SM interruptions on heart rate, low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio, and skin conductance. ANOVA results showed there were main effects of task cognitive level on LF/HF and skin conductance. These effects during interrupted tasks were more profound. In addition, participants experienced higher MWL and recorded lower primary task performance in the knowledge-based task than the rule- and skill-based tasks. Our findings can guide managers and employees regarding appropriate use of SM in the workplace and better managing interruption and workload.Practitioner Summary: Office workers suffer from increased overall mental workload due to unpredictable interruptions while working. This study shows that participants' mental workload increased when receiving SM interruptions, which was more profound during complex tasks. This highlights the importance of SM interruptions management for employees' health, performance, and mobile application developers.Abbreviations: ANOVA: analysis of variance; DSSQ: dundee stress state questionnaire; ECG: electrocardiographic; EDA: electrodermal activity; EEG: electroencephalographic; HPA: hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenocortical; HR: heart rate; HRV: heart rate variability; LF/HF: low frequency/high frequency; MSDs: musculoskeletal disorders; MWL: mental workload; NN: normal to normal; RMS: root means square; RR: time duration between two successive R peaks; RT: response time; SC: skin conductance; SDNN: standard deviation of normal to normal; SM: social media; TCL: task cognitive level; TPC: task performing condition; WMC: working memory capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Automobile Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Llopis HS, Jeong CH, Engsig-Karup AP. Reduced order modelling using parameterized non-uniform boundary conditions in room acoustic simulations. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 153:2506. [PMID: 37186149 DOI: 10.1121/10.0017720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Quick simulations for iterative evaluations of multi-design variables and boundary conditions are essential to find the optimal acoustic conditions in building design. We propose to use the reduced basis method (RBM) for realistic room acoustic scenarios where the surfaces have inhomogeneous acoustic properties, which enables quick evaluations of changing absorption materials for different surfaces in room acoustic simulations. The RBM has shown its benefit to speed up room acoustic simulations by 3 orders of magnitude for uniform boundary conditions. This study investigates the RBM with two main focuses: (1) various source positions in diverse geometries, e.g., square, rectangular, L-shaped, and disproportionate room, (2) two-dimensional and three-dimensional (3D) inhomogeneous surface absorption by parameterizing numerous acoustic parameters of surfaces, e.g., the thickness of a porous material, cavity depth, switching between a frequency independent (e.g., hard surface) and frequency dependent boundary condition. Results of numerical experiments show speedups of more than 2 orders of magnitude compared to a high fidelity numerical solver in a 3D case where reverberation time varies within one just noticeable difference in all the frequency octave bands.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cheol-Ho Jeong
- Acoustic Technology Group, Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Allan P Engsig-Karup
- Scientific Computing Section, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Jicol C, Taulo G, Goldie C, Lloyd-Esenkaya T, Hynes R, Paradise C, Proulx MJ, de Sousa AA. The effects of social density, spatial density, noise, and office views on perceived personal space in the virtual workplace. FRONTIERS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fcomp.2023.1066881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we sought to understand how perceived personal space is influenced by a number of variables that could influence Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ); specifically, we tested how different levels of social density, spatial density, noise presence, and type of view impact the appreciation of personal space in a shared office environment. We employed virtual reality (VR) to simulate shared and single occupancy offices and devised a novel measure of personal space estimation. We also used a traditional personal space satisfaction score. Participants experienced greater perceived personal space when (1) in a sparsely populated rather than a dense office, (2) in a private office rather than an open plan office, and (3) having any view outside of the office. We did not find an effect of the presence of noise or increased social density (with spatial density held constant) on the perception of personal space.
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Park SY, Newton C, Lee R. How to Alleviate Feelings of Crowding in a Working from Home Environment: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1025. [PMID: 36673782 PMCID: PMC9859247 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The sudden adoption of working from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 pandemic has required the reconfiguration of home spaces to fit space for remote work into existing spaces already filled with other domestic functions. This resulted in blurring of home and work boundaries, the potential lack of space for telecommuting from home, and telecommuters' feelings of crowding. Numerous studies have shown the negative effects of crowding feelings on workers' responses. This study focused on the issue of crowding in the residential workspace. An online survey was conducted to investigate how features of the home workspace correlate with telecommuters' feelings of crowding and how these feelings affect satisfaction, health, and productivity. As a result, we found that various environmental features of home workspaces (e.g., house size, purpose of workspace, accessible balcony, lighting, noise, etc.), as well as psychological aspects (e.g., individual control over space use), had significant effects on telecommuters' feelings of crowdedness. It was also found that feelings of crowding in the WFH environment can directly and indirectly affect teleworkers' satisfaction with work environments, well-being, and work performance. Based on the results, we offered various potential ways to alleviate overcrowding issues in the WFH context.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Yeon Park
- Department of Urbanism, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Julianalaan 134, 2628BL Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline Newton
- Department of Urbanism, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Julianalaan 134, 2628BL Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Rachel Lee
- Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Julianalaan 134, 2628BL Delft, The Netherlands
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Ahmadi Charkhabi S, Motamedzade M, Dianat I, Mortazavi SM, Faradmal J. Investigation of the multi-component ergonomics intervention effects on improving musculoskeletal outcomes and speech communication: A case study in open-plan offices. Work 2023; 76:275-288. [PMID: 36872832 DOI: 10.3233/wor-220427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Office workers are at high risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) due to improper workstations. Open-plan bank office employees must communicate with bank clerks properly and perform financial activity precisely, but noise is a factor that disrupts their communication. Therefore, MSS and annoying noise are two of the main problems in open-plan offices. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the effects of a multi-component intervention involving individual (employee ergonomics training) and physical (improvements in workstation design and work environment) ergonomic factors on musculoskeletal outcomes and speech communication in open-plan environments. METHODS A preliminary survey was carried out to investigate the overall ergonomics problems, the tasks and time analysis, workstations setup, the prevalence of MSS (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire), physical discomfort (Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]), and posture (assessed by Rapid Upper Limb Assessment [RULA] method), environmental status (measurement of noise), and speech intelligibility (assessed by Speech Interference Level [SIL] method based on ISO 9921). The multi-component interventions were performed afterward based on the data collected. A baseline assessment and a 9-month follow-up assessment were conducted. RESULTS The results showed a significant decrease in the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints (shoulders, elbows, and low back), physical discomfort, and awkward working postures after the intervention. A considerable improvement was also found in speech intelligibility post-intervention. The post-intervention questionnaire survey also indicated that employees generally favored the redesigned workstations. CONCLUSION The results support the effectiveness of implementing multi-component interventions in open-plan bank offices to improve musculoskeletal complaints and speech communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soheyla Ahmadi Charkhabi
- Department of Ergonomics, Faculty of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Majid Motamedzade
- Research Centre for Health Sciences, Department of Ergonomics, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Iman Dianat
- Department of Occupational Health and Ergonomics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Seyed Meysam Mortazavi
- Department of Occupational Health and Ergonomics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Javad Faradmal
- Modelling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Centre, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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11
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Li T, Lu R. Social undermining as a dark side of symbolic awards: Evidence from a regression discontinuity design. ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND HUMAN DECISION PROCESSES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2022.104184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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12
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Sahar Y, Wagner M, Barel A, Shoval S. Stress-Adaptive Training: An Adaptive Psychomotor Training According to Stress Measured by Grip Force. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:s22218368. [PMID: 36366066 PMCID: PMC9654132 DOI: 10.3390/s22218368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Current training methods show advances in simulation technologies; however, most of them fail to account for changes in the physical or mental state of the trainee. An innovative training method, adaptive to the trainee's stress levels as measured by grip force, is described and inspected. It is compared with two standard training methods that ignore the trainee's state, either leaving the task's level of difficulty constant or increasing it over time. Fifty-two participants, divided into three test groups, performed a psychomotor training task. The performance level of the stress-adaptive group was higher than for both control groups, with a main effect of t = -2.12 (p = 0.039), while the training time was shorter than both control groups, with a main effect of t = 3.27 (p = 0.002). These results indicate that stress-adaptive training has the potential to improve training outcomes. Moreover, these results imply that grip force measurement has practical applications. Future studies may aid in the development of this training method and its outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yotam Sahar
- Department of Industrial Engineering & Management, Ariel University, Ariel 4076414, Israel
- Correspondence:
| | - Michael Wagner
- Department of Industrial Engineering & Management, Ariel University, Ariel 4076414, Israel
| | - Ariel Barel
- The Faculty of Computer Science, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Shraga Shoval
- Department of Industrial Engineering & Management, Ariel University, Ariel 4076414, Israel
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Bergefurt L, Weijs-Perrée M, Appel-Meulenbroek R, Arentze T, de Kort Y. Satisfaction with activity-support and physical home-workspace characteristics in relation to mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 81:101826. [PMID: 35664454 PMCID: PMC9135482 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Previous research indicates that employees' mental health might be influenced by their satisfaction with physical office characteristics, such as noise, daylight, and ventilation. However, similar research on mental health in relation to working from home (WFH) is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relationships between satisfaction with physical home workspace characteristics and support of work activities and mental health while WFH during the COVID-19 pandemic. Relationships were analysed using a path analysis approach, based on a sample of 1219 office workers, who had to work fully from home. The internal relationships between the ten considered mental health variables were also studied. Results showed that satisfaction with daylight, artificial light, greenery, and views outside were directly related to one of the mental health variables and indirectly to several others. Surprisingly, satisfaction with temperature, noise, ventilation, and air quality did not seem to play a role at the home workplace. In addition, unlike at the office, personal characteristics did not relate to workspace satisfaction nor perceived support of activities at home. Furthermore, all mental health variables were related to at least one other mental health variable. Workplace managers could use these insights to formulate recommendations for employees on how to design their home-workspace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne Bergefurt
- Faculty of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Minou Weijs-Perrée
- Faculty of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Rianne Appel-Meulenbroek
- Faculty of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Theo Arentze
- Faculty of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Yvonne de Kort
- Faculty of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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14
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A Study on the Factors Influencing Overall Fatigue and Musculoskeletal Pains in Automobile Manufacturing Production Workers. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12073528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In South Korea, the automobile sector is a key industry that occupies a very large proportion of production, employment, and exports in the national economy. However, production workers in the automobile industry are still exposed to a wide range of risk factors. This study aims to investigate the relationships between personal characteristics or occupational hazard exposure and subjective overall fatigue or musculoskeletal pains in the automobile manufacturing industry. We extracted 446 automobile manufacturing production workers as subjects from the data of the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey. The χ2 test is performed to test whether there are differences in the distribution of complaints of musculoskeletal pains or overall fatigue in view of personal characteristics and exposure to working environment hazards and logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationships between them. Results showed that the proportions of the overall fatigue and musculoskeletal pains of the complaining group increase as the hazard exposure time increases. Longer exposure to tobacco smoke shows higher rates of complaints of overall fatigue and musculoskeletal pain. Results of logistic regression show that gender, longer exposure to fumes and dust, manual heavy loads handling, and to repetitive motion were the risk factors for overall fatigue and that gender, work experience, longer working hours, longer exposure to noise, fumes and dust, awkward posture, and high temperature were risk factors for musculoskeletal pains. The results show that there are close relationships between personal characteristics, working environment hazards, overall fatigue, and musculoskeletal pains.
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Kawakubo S, Arata S. Study on residential environment and workers' personality traits on productivity while working from home. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT 2022; 212:108787. [PMID: 35043030 PMCID: PMC8755452 DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.108787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Working from home has drawn more attention with the development of information and communications technology and the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Although studies on working from home have been conducted in various academic fields, few have focused on residential environment and personality traits. In the present study, air temperature and humidity of the home workplace were measured and a questionnaire survey was conducted to understand the relationship between residential environment and personality traits and at-home work productivity. The results suggest that comprehensive productivity while working from home improved. However, when examining individual aspects of productivity, the productivity of information processing improved while that of knowledge processing and knowledge creation deteriorated. The results also suggest the importance of improving the residential environment when working from home because productivity while working from home rather than from the office improved with high evaluation of the residential environment. Moreover, productivity decreased for workers with high neuroticism and increased for those with high openness or perseverance and passion, suggesting that some personality traits are more or less suitable for working from home. To improve the productivity of all workers, these findings have practical implications for promoting appropriate maintenance of the residential environment and introducing flexible work styles that account for personality traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Kawakubo
- Department of Architecture, Hosei University, 2-33 Ichigayatamachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-0843, Japan
| | - Shiro Arata
- Department of Architecture, Hosei University, 2-33 Ichigayatamachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-0843, Japan
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Environmental experience design research spectrum for energy and human well-being. HANDBOOK OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY 2022. [PMCID: PMC9258331 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-824084-7.00002-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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17
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Aminian O, Saraie M, Ahadi M, Eftekhari S. Association of the working environment noise with occupational stress in industrial workers. J Public Health (Oxf) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10389-021-01605-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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18
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Factors Affecting Occupants’ Satisfaction in Governmental Buildings: The Case of the Kingdom of Bahrain. BUILDINGS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/buildings11060231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Satisfaction is a very important factor in improving productivity and performance in the work environment. This study aims to investigate the levels of occupants’ satisfaction with the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in the governmental buildings in the Kingdom of Bahrain and to investigate the impact of occupants’ demographics and building attributes (non-IEQ factors) on these levels. For these purposes, the study used a questionnaire that has 17 indoor environmental quality (IEQ) factors in addition to a group of non-IEQ factors. The questionnaire was distributed by hand or using email to 279 employees in the Bahraini governmental sector. The findings of the study revealed that occupants in the Bahraini governmental buildings are not strongly satisfied with IEQ factors, especially with sound privacy, followed by visual privacy and amount of space, and then noise levels. The findings also showed that for most IEQ factors, men are more satisfied than women are, those who work in enclosed private offices are more satisfied than those who work in open-plan offices, and those who have central air-conditioning at their workplace are more than those who have a wall-mounted air conditioner. The impact of age, nature of work, duration of working in the current building and at the current workstation, weekly working hours, and proximity to the window were also investigated. Accordingly, a group of recommendations was suggested aiming to improve the levels of occupants’ satisfaction.
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Christensen JH, Saunders GH, Porsbo M, Pontoppidan NH. The everyday acoustic environment and its association with human heart rate: evidence from real-world data logging with hearing aids and wearables. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:201345. [PMID: 33972852 PMCID: PMC8074664 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the short-term association between multidimensional acoustic characteristics of everyday ambient sound and continuous mean heart rate. We used in-market data from hearing aid users who logged ambient acoustics via smartphone-connected hearing aids and continuous mean heart rate in 5 min intervals from their own wearables. We find that acoustic characteristics explain approximately 4% of the fluctuation in mean heart rate throughout the day. Specifically, increases in ambient sound pressure intensity are significantly related to increases in mean heart rate, corroborating prior laboratory and short-term real-world data. In addition, increases in ambient sound quality-that is, more favourable signal to noise ratios-are associated with decreases in mean heart rate. Our findings document a previously unrecognized mixed influence of everyday sounds on cardiovascular stress, and that the relationship is more complex than is seen from an examination of sound intensity alone. Thus, our findings highlight the relevance of ambient environmental sound in models of human ecophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabrielle H. Saunders
- Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Nielsen MB, Emberland JS, Knardahl S. Office design as a risk factor for disability retirement: A prospective registry study of Norwegian employees. Scand J Work Environ Health 2021; 47:22-32. [PMID: 32556338 PMCID: PMC7801143 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.3907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: This aim of this study was to (i) examine differences in risk of subsequent disability retirement between employees working in cellular, shared, and open-plan offices and (ii) determine the contribution of gender, skill-level, work ability, medically certified sickness absence, leadership position, and personality traits (extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness) as confounders. Methods: Survey data on predictor variables combined with official objective registry data on disability retirement and sickness absence were extracted from a large Norwegian occupational cohort of office workers (N=6779, 53.5% women). Questionnaire data included the respondents’ office designs, comparing cellular, shared, and open-plan offices, demographic characteristics, workability, and personality factors. Objective data on disability retirement and medically certified sickness absence were extracted from the sickness and disability benefit register of the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration. Results: In the final fully adjusted model, employees working in shared [hazard rato (HR) 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–2.16] and open-plan (HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.31–2.90) offices had significantly higher risk of subsequent disability retirement compared to employees in cellular offices. Gender, work ability, medically certified sickness absence, and conscientiousness had independent direct effects on risk of disability retirement. Conclusion: This study shows that open and shared workspace designs have detrimental effects by increasing risk of disability retirement among office workers, even when taking other known predictive factors into account.
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Minutillo S, Cleary M, Visentin D. Employee Well-Being in Open-Plan Office Spaces. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2021; 42:103-105. [PMID: 33464178 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2020.1865072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susannah Minutillo
- School of Nursing, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle Cleary
- School of Nursing, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Denis Visentin
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Radun J, Maula H, Rajala V, Scheinin M, Hongisto V. Speech is special: The stress effects of speech, noise, and silence during tasks requiring concentration. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:264-274. [PMID: 32805749 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Effects of noise on people depend on sound level but also on other sound properties. A systematic comparison of the stress effects of speech and noise with the same frequency content is missing. This study compared stress reactions under sound conditions speech (sound level 65 dB LAeq ), noise (65 dB), and silence (35 dB), all having similar relative frequency contents. Fifty-nine participants were exposed to one out of three sound conditions on average for 48 minutes while performing tasks requiring concentration. Acute physiological stress was estimated by measuring stress hormone concentrations in plasma (cortisol and noradrenaline), heart rate variability (HRV), and blood pressure. Psychological stress measures were subjective noise annoyance, workload, and fatigue. Compared to silence and noise, working during speech was more annoying, loading, but less tiring, and led to elevated HRV LF/HF ratio with time. Speech also raised cortisol levels compared with silence. Although noise was more annoying, and raised cortisol levels compared with silence, working during speech was more loading and caused more physiological stress than other sound conditions. Special care should be paid to noise control in workplaces requiring concentration because already exposure to moderate sound level sounds caused clear physiological effects on people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni Radun
- Psychophysical Research Laboratory, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland
| | - Henna Maula
- Psychophysical Research Laboratory, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland
| | - Ville Rajala
- Psychophysical Research Laboratory, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland
| | - Mika Scheinin
- Institute of Biomedicine, and Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Valtteri Hongisto
- Psychophysical Research Laboratory, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland
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Otterbring T, Bodin Danielsson C, Pareigis J. Office types and workers' cognitive vs affective evaluations from a noise perspective. JOURNAL OF MANAGERIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1108/jmp-09-2019-0534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeThis study aims to examine the links between office types (cellular, shared-room, small and medium-sized open-plan) and employees' subjective well-being regarding cognitive and affective evaluations and the role perceived noise levels at work has on the aforementioned associations.Design/methodology/approachA survey with measures of office types, perceived noise levels at work and the investigated facets of subjective well-being (cognitive vs affective) was distributed to employees working as real estate agents in Sweden. In total, 271 useable surveys were returned and were analyzed using analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and a regression-based model mirroring a test of moderated mediation.FindingsA significant difference was found between office types on the well-being dimension related to cognitive, but not affective, evaluations. Employees working in cellular and shared-room offices reported significantly higher ratings on this dimension than employees working in open-plan offices, and employees in medium-sized open-plan offices reported significantly lower cognitive evaluation scores than employees working in all other office types. This pattern of results was mediated by perceived noise levels at work, with employees in open-plan (vs cellular and shared-room) offices reporting less satisfactory noise perceptions and, in turn, lower well-being scores, especially regarding the cognitive (vs affective) dimension.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to compare the relative impact of office types on both cognitive and affective well-being dimensions while simultaneously testing and providing empirical support for the presumed process explaining the link between such aspects.
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Jahncke H, Hallman DM. Objective measures of cognitive performance in activity based workplaces and traditional office types. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 72:101503. [PMID: 33052159 PMCID: PMC7543894 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Distraction from the background environment while performing concentrationdemanding tasks is a common issue for office employees in shared work areas. However, few field studies have been conducted on the effects of different office types and work areas on objective measurements of cognitive performance. The first aim of the present field study was to investigate, before relocation to an activity-based workplace (ABW), differences in performance on a concentration-demanding cognitive task between individuals in shared/open-plan offices compared to cell offices. The second aim was to investigate, after relocation, how performance differs (withinperson) between different work areas within the ABW. This study included employees from five offices (n = 113), of which four relocated into an ABW. An acoustician measured the equivalent sound levels of the work areas. Data were analyzed using linear regression (aim 1) and mixed models (aim 2). Before relocation, employees working in shared/open-plan offices performed significantly worse (14%) than those in cell-offices, which had a 15 LAeq lower noise level. After relocation, employees performed significantly worse in the active zone without noise restrictions, compared to all other work areas. When shifting open-plan area from the active zone to the quiet zone cognitive performance increased significantly by 16.9%, and switching to individual working rooms increased performance by 21.9%. The results clearly demonstrate the importance for organizations to provide quiet areas or rooms with few distractions for employees working on tasks that demand concentration in an ABW. A daily drop in performance for each employee may be expensive for the organization in the long run.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Jahncke
- Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Sweden
| | - David M Hallman
- Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Sweden
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Morrison RL, Stahlmann-Brown P. Perceptions and performance of knowledge workers transitioning from single-cell offices to shared workspaces: evidence from panel data. JOURNAL OF MANAGERIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1108/jmp-09-2019-0531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purposeto evaluate the experiences of knowledge workers who work in shared workspaces and those who moved from single-cell offices to shared workspaces.Design/methodology/approachKnowledge workers were surveyed before and after 34% moved from single-cell offices to shared workspaces. The authors exploit this panel design in the analysis.FindingsShared offices were rated as providing more distraction, less privacy and worsened indoor environment quality (IEQ) (p < 0.05). Perceptions of collaboration and networking also declined in shared workspaces. Distraction and a lack of privacy were negatively associated with self-reported productivity (p < 0.10). Neither IEQ nor collaboration nor networking was significantly associated with productivity. The perceptions of those who moved to shared workspaces and those who had worked in shared workspaces all along were statistically indistinguishable.Research limitations/implicationsThe quasi-experimental control provides evidence that it is the office type, not the experience of moving, that accounts for the evaluative changes. There are limitations inherent in using a self-rating performance measure.Practical implicationsOrganisations should be aware that the positive outcomes ascribed to shared spaces may not be apparent and that demands may outweigh benefits.Originality/valueKnowledge workers are particularly impacted by distraction and interruptions to concentrated work. The quasi-experimental design controlled for the Hawthorne effect, demonstrating that it is the office type, not the move, that accounts for differences in perceptions.
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Spence C. Senses of place: architectural design for the multisensory mind. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2020; 5:46. [PMID: 32945978 PMCID: PMC7501350 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-020-00243-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, architectural practice has been dominated by the eye/sight. In recent decades, though, architects and designers have increasingly started to consider the other senses, namely sound, touch (including proprioception, kinesthesis, and the vestibular sense), smell, and on rare occasions, even taste in their work. As yet, there has been little recognition of the growing understanding of the multisensory nature of the human mind that has emerged from the field of cognitive neuroscience research. This review therefore provides a summary of the role of the human senses in architectural design practice, both when considered individually and, more importantly, when studied collectively. For it is only by recognizing the fundamentally multisensory nature of perception that one can really hope to explain a number of surprising crossmodal environmental or atmospheric interactions, such as between lighting colour and thermal comfort and between sound and the perceived safety of public space. At the same time, however, the contemporary focus on synaesthetic design needs to be reframed in terms of the crossmodal correspondences and multisensory integration, at least if the most is to be made of multisensory interactions and synergies that have been uncovered in recent years. Looking to the future, the hope is that architectural design practice will increasingly incorporate our growing understanding of the human senses, and how they influence one another. Such a multisensory approach will hopefully lead to the development of buildings and urban spaces that do a better job of promoting our social, cognitive, and emotional development, rather than hindering it, as has too often been the case previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Spence
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Crossmodal Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Anna Watts Building, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK.
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28
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Tekce I, Ergen E, Artan D. Structural Equation Model of Occupant Satisfaction for Evaluating the Performance of Office Buildings. ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13369-020-04804-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Pitchforth J, Nelson-White E, van den Helder M, Oosting W. The work environment pilot: An experiment to determine the optimal office design for a technology company. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232943. [PMID: 32428036 PMCID: PMC7236992 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades many corporate organisations have moved to open-plan office designs, mostly due to financial and logistical benefits. However, recent studies have found significant drawbacks to open plan offices and it is unclear how office designs can facilitate the best work output and company culture. Current design practice aims to optimise efficiency of space, but no previous research has tested the effect of office design experimentally in a working office. This paper describes an experiment comparing four different office designs (Open-plan, Zoned open-plan, Activity based, and Team offices) against a suite of wellbeing and productivity metrics in a real world technology company. Results suggest that two very different designs (Zoned open-plan and Team offices) perform well compared to Open-plan office designs. Zoned open-plan and Team office designs improved employee satisfaction, enjoyment, flow, and productivity, while Activity based and Open-plan designs performed poorly by comparison. The Open-plan office design was rated more poorly by employees, had higher levels of unsafe noise, and once employees no longer had to be in the Open-plan office design of the experiment, they spent more time at their desks.
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Forooraghi M, Miedema E, Ryd N, Wallbaum H. Scoping review of health in office design approaches. JOURNAL OF CORPORATE REAL ESTATE 2020. [DOI: 10.1108/jcre-08-2019-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeThis paper aims to explore the literature on office design approaches (ODAs) in relation to employee health. The overall goal is to facilitate the practical use and theoretical development of design approaches to healthy offices.Design/methodology/approachA scoping review of 7,432 papers collected from 4 electronic databases and 5 scientific journals resulted in the selection of 18 papers for content analysis.FindingsVarious ODAs relating to building design features and health were identified. The findings highlight challenges for this emergent field, including a paucity of literature on ODAs, a lack of definitions of health and healthy offices, ambiguous design strategies and a lack of a holistic ODA.Originality/valueODAs are potentially valuable resources but an under-considered topic for healthy office development. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first scoping review to map and compare different design approaches in the context of office design and its main contribution is in encouraging researchers and practitioners to bring a salutogenic and holistic perspective to their design approaches.
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Jafari MJ, Khosrowabadi R, Khodakarim S, Mohammadian F. The Effect of Noise Exposure on Cognitive Performance and Brain Activity Patterns. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2019; 7:2924-2931. [PMID: 31844459 PMCID: PMC6901841 DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2019.742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It seems qualitative measurements of subjective reactions are not appropriate indicators to assess the effect of noise on cognitive performance. AIM: In this study, quantitative and combined indicators were applied to study the effect of noise on cognitive performance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 54 young subjects were included in this experimental study. The participants’ mental workload and attention were evaluated under different levels of noise exposure including, background noise, 75, 85 and 95 dBA noise levels. The study subject’s EEG signals were recorded for 10 minutes while they were performing the IVA test. The EEG signals were used to estimate the relative power of their brain frequency bands. RESULTS: Results revealed that mental workload and visual/auditory attention is significantly reduced when the participants are exposed to noise at 95 dBA level (P < 0.05). Results also showed that with the rise in noise levels, the relative power of the Alpha band increases while the relative power of the Beta band decreases as compared to background noise. The most prominent change in the relative power of the Alpha and Beta bands occurs in the occipital and frontal regions of the brain respectively. CONCLUSION: The application of new indicators, including brain signal analysis and power spectral density analysis, is strongly recommended in the assessment of cognitive performance during noise exposure. Further studies are suggested regarding the effects of other psychoacoustic parameters such as tonality, noise pitch (treble or bass) at extended exposure levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Javad Jafari
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, School Of Public Health And Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Khosrowabadi
- Institute for Cognitive and Brain Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Khodakarim
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farough Mohammadian
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Davidson D, Harrison G. "Leaning in" and "leaning back": Exploring the spatiality of telephone counselling. Health Place 2019; 58:102158. [PMID: 31284219 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This paper explores telephone counsellors' experiences of the spatial dimensions of their work. Henri Lefebvre's spatial triad is applied to explore how counsellors conceive, perceive, and experience the spaces and places of this work. Three key findings are outlined: 1) the purpose built telephone counselling space is experienced as noisy and distracting; 2) counsellors engage in spatial practices to manage their depth of caller interaction; and 3) counsellors construct a mental place to foster intimacy with callers. These findings contribute to a novel conceptualisation of telephone counselling, raising implications for how it is performed and understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Davidson
- School of Public Health and Social Work, KG-OB619 - Level 6, O Block B Wing, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove Qld, 4059, Australia.
| | - Gai Harrison
- School of Public Health and Social Work, KG-OB619 - Level 6, O Block B Wing, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove Qld, 4059, Australia
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Abbasi M, Yazdanirad S, Habibi P, Arabi S, Fallah Madvari R, Mehri A, Poursadeghiyan M, Ebrahimi MH, Ghaljahi M. Relationship among noise exposure, sensitivity, and noise annoyance with job satisfaction and job stress in a textile industry. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/0957456519853812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among noise exposure, sensitivity, and noise annoyance with job satisfaction and job stress among the workers of a textile industry. In this study, Weinstein’s Noise Sensitivity Scale, Noise Annoyance Questionnaire (recommended based on ISO 15666-2003), Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Job Stress Questionnaire, and Job Satisfaction Scale were used to determine the degree of noise sensitivity, noise annoyance, occupational stress, and job satisfaction, respectively. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the mean of job satisfaction, job stress, noise sensitivity, and noise annoyance between case and control groups. The results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that noise exposure, noise sensitivity, and noise annoyance can justify 0.09, 0.19, and 0.06 of the variance of job stress, respectively. These variables also could justify 0.09, 0.12, and 0.05 of the variance of job satisfaction, respectively. Noise sensitivity had the greatest effect on increasing the occupational stress and job satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Abbasi
- Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Yazdanirad
- School of Health, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Peymaneh Habibi
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Arabi
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rohollah Fallah Madvari
- Student Research Committee, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Mehri
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran
| | - Mohsen Poursadeghiyan
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Ebrahimi
- Environmental and Occupational Health Research Center, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Maryam Ghaljahi
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
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Does the Number of Occupants in an Office Influence Individual Perceptions of Comfort and Productivity?—New Evidence from 5000 Office Workers. BUILDINGS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/buildings9030073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose—The purpose of this article is to present evidence of occupants’ perception of their work environment in five different office types (Solo, Duo, 2–4, 5–8 and 8Plus offices). The study examined the influence of the number of office occupants on individual perception of indoor environment quality (IEQ) in office environments. Design/methodology/approach—A dataset of 5000 respondents in 67 commercial and institutional office buildings was analysed using IBM SPSS v23. The dataset contained user response on the BUS Methodology questionnaire that is designed to retrieve occupants’ perception of their work environments. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis were conducted to calculate the impact of the office environment on occupants’ perception of comfort and productivity. Findings - This study showed that occupants in Solo and Duo offices perceived higher satisfaction with their environment (except for temperature in summer), better health and productivity; and more control over the office environment than those in 5–8 and 8Plus offices. Occupants in 8Plus offices were most satisfied with the temperature in summer. It was also noted that the IEQ factors that predicted comfort were observed to not predict productivity. Noise was the only IEQ factor that had predictive power for both comfort and productivity in all the office spaces. Originality/value—This article provides intriguing findings on occupants’ perception of various types of office environment that contributes significantly to the debate on open-plan versus cellular office environments.
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A Cross-Sectional Survey on the Impact of Irrelevant Speech Noise on Annoyance, Mental Health and Well-being, Performance and Occupants' Behavior in Shared and Open-Plan Offices. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16020280. [PMID: 30669442 PMCID: PMC6351961 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16020280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This cross-sectional survey has compared subjective outcomes obtained from workers in shared (2–5 occupants) and open-plan (+5 occupants) offices, related to irrelevant speech, which is the noise that is generated from conversations between colleagues, telephone calls and laughter. Answers from 1078 subjects (55% in shared offices and 45% in open-plan offices) have shown that irrelevant speech increases noise annoyance, decreases work performance, and increases symptoms related to mental health and well-being more in open-plan than in shared offices. Workers often use headphones with music to contrast irrelevant speech in open-plan offices, while they take a break, change their working space, close the door or work from home in shared offices. Being female, when there are more than 20 occupants, and working in southern cities without acoustic treatments in the office, make it more likely for the occupants to be annoyed by irrelevant speech noise in open-plan offices. While, working in southern cities and with acoustic treatments in the office makes it more likely that noise annoyance will be reported in shared offices. Finally, more than 70% of the interviewed in open-plan offices were willing to reduce their voice volumes when advised by a noise monitoring system with a lighting feedback.
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Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Noise Detection in Open-Plan Offices Using Recursive Partitioning. BUILDINGS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/buildings8120169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Open-plan offices have lower construction costs, allowing for significant savings in space and, according to designers, facilitate communication between workers, thus, improving collaboration, as well as the exchange of ideas. For these reasons, this type of office has become widespread, while highlighting numerous limitations and various problems. These include the control of anthropic and electromechanical noise. In this study, measurements of the noise emitted by a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system were carried out in an open-plan office. The average spectral levels in a 1/3 octave band were compared through correlation analysis, to identify any redundant data. A model was then adapted to evaluate the importance of the variables, in order to classify the characteristics, by importance. To reduce the number of predictor variables, a selection analysis of the characteristics was carried out. A subset of predictors was extracted to be used to produce an accurate prediction model. Finally, a model based on recursive partitioning, to detect the operating conditions of an HVAC system, was developed and applied, so as to provide insights into the development and application of this technique, in these contexts. The high accuracy of the model (Accuracy = 0.9981) suggests the adoption of this tool for several applications.
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Min JY, Min KB. Night noise exposure and risk of death by suicide in adults living in metropolitan areas. Depress Anxiety 2018; 35:876-883. [PMID: 29953702 DOI: 10.1002/da.22789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noise is defined as "sound that is unwanted, unpleasant, or harmful to health." It may induce negative emotions and mental health problems and even may leads to increased suicide risk. Little attention has been paid so far to a potential link between noise and suicide. We investigated the association between nighttime environmental noise and suicide death in adults in the Republic of Korea. METHODS We analyzed the data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort, with a 4-year baseline (2002-2005) and an 8-year follow-up (2006-2013) assessment. A total of 155,492 adults constituted the study sample: younger adults (20-54 years, n = 124,994), or older adults (≥55 years, n = 30,498), and adults with mood and anxiety disorders (n = 34,615). Suicide death was defined as per International Classification of Diseases-10 code X60-X84. Data on nighttime noise were obtained from the National Noise Information System. RESULTS During the study period, 315 (0.2%) died of suicide. The incidence of suicide per 100,000 person-years was 25.71. With interquartile range increases in nighttime noise, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for suicide death was significantly increased: 1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.70) for younger adults, 1.43 (95% CI: 1.01-2.02) for older adults, and 1.55 (95% CI: 1.10-2.19) for adults with mental illness. In the penalized regression spline models, the HRs for suicide death were gradually increased with environmental noise levels, and the risk was the highest for adults with mental illness. CONCLUSIONS We found a significant association between exposure to nighttime noise and the risk of suicide death in adults in the Republic of Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Young Min
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung-Bok Min
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Xiong L, Huang X, Li J, Mao P, Wang X, Wang R, Tang M. Impact of Indoor Physical Environment on Learning Efficiency in Different Types of Tasks: A 3 × 4 × 3 Full Factorial Design Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E1256. [PMID: 29899260 PMCID: PMC6025257 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15061256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Indoor physical environments appear to influence learning efficiency nowadays. For improvement in learning efficiency, environmental scenarios need to be designed when occupants engage in different learning tasks. However, how learning efficiency is affected by indoor physical environment based on task types are still not well understood. The present study aims to explore the impacts of three physical environmental factors (i.e., temperature, noise, and illuminance) on learning efficiency according to different types of tasks, including perception, memory, problem-solving, and attention-oriented tasks. A 3 × 4 × 3 full factorial design experiment was employed in a university classroom with 10 subjects recruited. Environmental scenarios were generated based on different levels of temperature (17 °C, 22 °C, and 27 °C), noise (40 dB(A), 50 dB(A), 60 dB(A), and 70 dB(A)) and illuminance (60 lx, 300 lx, and 2200 lx). Accuracy rate (AC), reaction time (RT), and the final performance indicator (PI) were used to quantify learning efficiency. The results showed ambient temperature, noise, and illuminance exerted significant main effect on learning efficiency based on four task types. Significant concurrent effects of the three factors on final learning efficiency was found in all tasks except problem-solving-oriented task. The optimal environmental scenarios for top learning efficiency were further identified under different environmental interactions. The highest learning efficiency came in thermoneutral, relatively quiet, and bright conditions in perception-oriented task. Subjects performed best under warm, relatively quiet, and moderately light exposure when recalling images in the memory-oriented task. Learning efficiency peaked to maxima in thermoneutral, fairly quiet, and moderately light environment in problem-solving process while in cool, fairly quiet and bright environment with regard to attention-oriented task. The study provides guidance for building users to conduct effective environmental intervention with simultaneous controls of ambient temperature, noise, and illuminance. It contributes to creating the most suitable indoor physical environment for improving occupants learning efficiency according to different task types. The findings could further supplement the present indoor environment-related standards or norms with providing empirical reference on environmental interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilin Xiong
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China.
- Department of Environmental Health, Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210003, China.
| | - Xiao Huang
- Department of Hygiene, School of Public Health, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423000, China.
| | - Jie Li
- School of Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
| | - Peng Mao
- Department of Construction Management, School of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Construction Management, School of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Rubing Wang
- Department of Construction Management, School of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Meng Tang
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China.
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Ferdous R, Osmani V, Beltran Marquez J, Mayora O. Investigating correlation between verbal interactions and perceived stress. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2018; 2015:1612-5. [PMID: 26736583 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2015.7318683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
While moderate exposure to stress at work can act as productivity booster, prolonged exposure not only decreases productivity, but it can also lead to an array of health related problems. Therefore, monitoring stress levels and more importantly correlated stressors, becomes prerequisite for a productive workforce. Considering that verbal interaction is an integral part of workplace environments, we report the results of our study that investigates correlation between perceived stress levels and verbal interaction. 28 workers were monitored over 6 weeks through their smartphones during their daily, real-world behaviour, capturing both verbal interaction and perceived stress levels. Results show that more than half of participants show correlation between perceived stress levels and verbal interaction, while this correlation is observed for over 90% of highly stressed participants.
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Asadi I, Mahyuddin N, Shafigh P. A review on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and energy consumption in building based on occupant behavior. FACILITIES 2017. [DOI: 10.1108/f-06-2016-0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the concept of occupant behavior and its relation with indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and building energy consumption. The behavior is referred to any direct or indirect action, which is selected by an occupant to manage the unpleasant indoor environmental conditions. Thermal comfort, indoor air quality, aural comfort and visual comfort are the key factors of IEQ evaluation. Human behavior significantly interacts with energy consumption in buildings.
Design/methodology/approach
Each IEQ parameter was reviewed separately and the overall IEQ acceptance was considered. In addition, this paper reviews the methods that were used to measure and simulate the IEQ factors, energy consumption and human behavior. Finally, the lack of knowledge in this field is based on the review demonstrated.
Findings
Most studies considered one or two IEQ factors to evaluate IEQ acceptance in buildings. Further, weakness of simulating all IEQ factors at the same time is the deficiency of IEQ simulation, based on reviews. In the case of occupant behavior simulation, the uncertainly of human psychological parameter is a drawback to predict behavior.
Originality/value
Energy consumption, occupant health and productivity are related to IEQ. Human behavior affects building energy consumption directly. Simulation software and methods can predict IEQ factors and human behavior. Therefore, reviewing the existing studies is critical to find new methods for measuring and simulating IEQ, energy consumption and human behavior in buildings.
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41
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Haynes B, Suckley L, Nunnington N. Workplace productivity and office type. JOURNAL OF CORPORATE REAL ESTATE 2017. [DOI: 10.1108/jcre-11-2016-0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Wohlers C, Hertel G. Choosing where to work at work - towards a theoretical model of benefits and risks of activity-based flexible offices. ERGONOMICS 2017; 60:467-486. [PMID: 27167298 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2016.1188220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Although there is a trend in today's organisations to implement activity-based flexible offices (A-FOs), only a few studies examine consequences of this new office type. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms why A-FOs might lead to different consequences as compared to cellular and open-plan offices are still unclear. This paper introduces a theoretical framework explaining benefits and risks of A-FOs based on theories from work and organisational psychology. After deriving working conditions specific for A-FOs (territoriality, autonomy, privacy, proximity and visibility), differences in working conditions between A-FOs and alternative office types are proposed. Further, we suggest how these differences in working conditions might affect work-related consequences such as well-being, satisfaction, motivation and performance on the individual, the team and the organisational level. Finally, we consider task-related (e.g. task variety), person-related (e.g. personality) and organisational (e.g. leadership) moderators. Based on this model, future research directions as well as practical implications are discussed. Practitioner Summary: Activity-based flexible offices (A-FOs) are popular in today's organisations. This article presents a theoretical model explaining why and when working in an A-FO evokes benefits and risks for individuals, teams and organisations. According to the model, A-FOs are beneficial when management encourages employees to use the environment appropriately and supports teams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Wohlers
- a DFG Research Training Group "Trust and Communication in a Digitized World" , University of Münster , Münster , Germany
- b Department of Psychology , University of Münster , Münster , Germany
| | - Guido Hertel
- b Department of Psychology , University of Münster , Münster , Germany
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Keus van de Poll M, Sörqvist P. Effects of Task Interruption and Background Speech on Word Processed Writing. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2016; 30:430-439. [PMID: 27818574 PMCID: PMC5074307 DOI: 10.1002/acp.3221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Task interruptions and background speech, both part of the everyday situation in office environments, impair cognitive performance. The current experiments explored the combined effects of background speech and task interruptions on word processed writing—arguably, a task representative of office work. Participants wrote stories, in silence or in the presence of background speech (monologues, halfalogues and dialogues), and were occasionally interrupted by a secondary task. Writing speed was comparably low during the immediate period after the interruption (Experiments 1 and 2); it took 10–15 s to regain full writing speed. Background speech had only a small effect on performance (Experiment 1), but a dialogue was more disruptive than a halfalogue (Experiment 2). Background speech did not add to the cost caused by task interruptions. However, subjective measures suggested that speech, just as interruptions, contributed to perceived workload. The findings are discussed in view of attentional capture and interference‐by‐process mechanisms.© 2016 The Authors. Applied Cognitive Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrik Sörqvist
- Department of Building, Energy, and Environmental Engineering University of Gävle Gävle Sweden
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44
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Brand JL, Smith TJ. Effects of Reducing Enclosure on Perceptions of Occupancy Quality, Job Satisfaction, and Job Performance in Open-Plan Offices. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/154193120504900806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Results from two field studies are reported: a quasi-experiment of changing from 60—64 inch to 36—42 inch partition heights at a multi-national corporation, and a comparison of two office areas at a global manufacturer. In the first study, both control and experimental participants endured moving, but only the experimental group experienced any change in partition height. A quantitative, subjective survey provided work environment ratings before, immediately after, and six months after the change. The results show that in general, this was a negative change for users, although some non-significant trends suggested that-defined at the group level-one or two outcomes may have been positive. Using a much more extensive instrument, the second study found several differences in occupant ratings of workplace design as a function of differences in the physical environments. A framework is outlined for interpreting these results in terms of individual (i.e., privacy) and group (i.e., communication) needs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas J. Smith
- Orfield Laboratories, Inc. and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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45
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Danielsson CB. Office type’s association to employees’ welfare: Three studies. Work 2016; 54:779-90. [DOI: 10.3233/wor-162361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Bodin Danielsson
- School of Architecture, School of Architecture & Built Environment, The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- The Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Tel.: +46 73 255 78 58; E-mail: ;
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46
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Smith-Jackson T, Middlebrooks R, Francis J, Gray T, Nelson K, Steele B, Townsend K, Watlington C. Open plan offices as sociotechnical systems: What matters and to whom? Work 2016; 54:807-23. [DOI: 10.3233/wor-162362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Do we know how stressed we are? Behav Brain Sci 2016; 38:e127. [PMID: 26786631 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x14001757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
I take issue with Kalisch et al.'s formulation of PASTOR, arguing that care must be taken in understanding what is meant by "appraisal." I examine the implications of PASTOR given two competing possibilities for what counts as an appraisal - first, if appraisal is restricted to conscious reflection on one's circumstances, and second, if appraisal is expanded to include subconscious mechanisms of evaluation.
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48
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Haider S, Sadir S, Naqvi F, Batool Z, Tabassum S, Khaliq S, Anis L, Sajid I, Haleem DJ. Magnesium treatment palliates noise-induced behavioral deficits by normalizing DAergic and 5-HTergic metabolism in adult male rats. Metab Brain Dis 2016; 31:815-25. [PMID: 26928203 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-016-9811-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Magnesium (Mg) is the fourth most abundant biological mineral essential for good health. Neuroprotective, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of magnesium following stress and brain injuries are well established. In present study, we analyzed the protective effects of magnesium in rats exposed to sub-chronic noise stress. Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2, 100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally once daily for 15 days prior exposure to noise stress. Rats were exposed to noise stress for 4 h after administration of magnesium for 15 days. At the end of treatment behavioral alterations were assessed. Animals were decapitated following behavioral testing and the brains were dissected out for neurochemical estimations by HPLC-EC. Improvement in noise-induced memory deficits as assessed by novel object recognition (NOR) test and elevated plus maze (EPM) test was found in magnesium treated rats. This improvement in noise-induced behavioral deficits following treatment with magnesium may be attributed to a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) turnover as compared to control rats observed in present work. These results suggest that treatment with magnesium can attenuate the noise-induced deficits and may be used as a therapy against noise-induced neurodegeneration. Moreover an adequate amount of magnesium in daily diet may help to develop the ability to resist against or cope up with stressful conditions encountered in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saida Haider
- Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
| | - Sadia Sadir
- Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Fizza Naqvi
- Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Zehra Batool
- Department of Biochemistry, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi, 74600, Pakistan
| | - Saiqa Tabassum
- Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Saima Khaliq
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal Urdu University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Lubna Anis
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal Urdu University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Irfan Sajid
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal Urdu University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Darakhshan J Haleem
- Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
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Abd Jalil NA, Che Din NB, Keumala N. Assessment on acoustical performance of green office buildings in Malaysia. INDOOR AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT 2016; 25:589-602. [DOI: 10.1177/1420326x14559855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Green building rating system outlines many requirements to be considered in order for a building to be certified as one. However, the rating tools failed at truly addressing the acoustical aspect which in turn deteriorates the acoustical quality in green buildings. As preliminary stage of this study, the objective is to assess the acoustical performance of three green office buildings in Malaysia in comparison to selected standard acceptability criteria. Four spaces containing meeting rooms and open-plan offices were selected from each green building as subjects. Assessments were limited to selected acoustical parameters of background noise level, noise criteria, reverberation time and speech transmission index. The background noise levels were found to be within acceptable criteria range despite some meeting rooms that exceeded the maximum recommended level. However, noise criteria ratings found most of the spaces to be below the acceptable noise criteria. Reverberation times data varied from satisfactory 0.7 s to unacceptable 1.5 s. Nonetheless, the background noise, noise criteria and reverberation time data collected were found to be unbiased by the volume of the space. Speech transmission indexes were found to be ample within good and fair speech intelligibility range while still maintaining its normal tendency of decreasing with distance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul Amira Abd Jalil
- Faculty of Built Environment, Department of Architecture, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nazli bin Che Din
- Faculty of Built Environment, Department of Architecture, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nila Keumala
- Faculty of Built Environment, Department of Architecture, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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50
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Gonzalez I, Morer P. Ergonomics for the inclusion of older workers in the knowledge workforce and a guidance tool for designers. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2016; 53 Pt A:131-142. [PMID: 26454819 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The ageing of the population and the inverted population pyramid is bringing important changes to society as a whole. These changes are associated with the inclusion of an older workforce in knowledge work and the challenge they represent in adapting the work environment accordingly. In order to approach a more universal design of the work environment, industrial designers need support from user-sensitive inclusive design studies. While there are plenty of guidelines and tools containing relevant information, there is a need to develop more appropriate tools for Industrial Designers that cover the initial phase of the design process. This study provides a review of the available tools and guidelines and proposes a theoretical framework intended for developing a design guidance tool for inclusive workstation design.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Gonzalez
- Tecnun, School of Engineering, University of Navarra, San Sebastian, Spain.
| | - P Morer
- Tecnun, School of Engineering, University of Navarra, San Sebastian, Spain
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