Abstract
The aim of this study was to create and validate a scale of bore-out at work: a measure for bore-out that could be used in French-speaking workplaces. Bore-out is a recently defined phenomenon, and few studies have been conducted to evaluate it- particularly in a French context. We investigated the dimensional structure of bore-out in a sample of French-speaking workers by distributing an online survey. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated four dimensions with high internal consistency. Through a measurement invariance analysis, a factorial structure was confirmed for men and women as well as for Gen-X and Gen-Y workers. Criterion validity was verified in regard to the relation between the scores on the WBOS dimensions and those obtained for self-esteem, depression, perceived self-efficacy, and perceived helplessness. The overall results of the analysis performed in this study show satisfactory psychometric qualities for the Work Bore-Out Scale (WBOS).
Highlights
Over the last 40 years, the main phenomenon studied in the field of ill-being at work has been occupational burnout
The current findings provide preliminary evidence that the resulting scale, the Work BoreOut Scale (WBOS), presents adequate psychometric properties: its subscales scores are reliable, its factor structure has theoretical meaning and is invariant across genders and generations, and subscales scores alike correlate in the expected way with external variables
The current study aimed to develop a validated tool to measure bore-out in the workplace
Summary
Over the last 40 years, the main phenomenon studied in the field of ill-being at work has been occupational burnout. The academic focus on burnout tends to overshadow other reasons for unhappiness in the workplace such as harassment. Burnout tends to focus on the overwhelming nature of the workplace (e.g., having too much work or pressure) and not as much attention is paid to how a lack of stimulation can be difficult for an employee. Boredom at work is not to be neglected. In 2016, a survey of 23,236 French workers found that 41.1% of respondents suffered from boredom at work (Beque et al, 2019). In 2008, the phenomenon received attention with the invention of the term “bore-out” by Rothlin and Werder to describe the specific suffering stemming from under-stimulation and boredom at work
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