Changes in stress and subjective workload over time following a workload transition

Abstract

Workload transitions present individuals with sudden changes in workload. These transitions may affect stress and coping behaviour. Two experiments were performed using a digit detection task that shifted between low and high workload levels to examine transition effects on performance, stress, and effort. The first experiment used a large magnitude transition and resulted in decreased estimates of task engagement and effort. Over time, the levels of subjective stress observed in the transitioned groups approached those of the non-transitioned control groups. The second experiment used a transition more moderate in magnitude. The results were similar to those from the first experiment except that the transition resulted in higher, sustained task engagement and effort. These findings indicate that over time, the perceived stress of transitioned individuals will approach those of non-transitioned individuals; however, the magnitude of the transition may influence individuals to either increase or decrease task-oriented, effortful coping.Relevance to human factors/ergonomics theoryPrevious research on the effect of workload transitions on experienced stress has produced conflicting results. Drawing upon transactional stress theory and motivational intensity theory, two experiments were conducted which resolve some of those conflicting findings. This research adds to our understanding of how workload transitions may affect individuals' experienced stress.