Is Trait Boredom Redundant?

Abstract

The present study explored trait boredom's usefulness as an individual difference measure for the prediction of psychosocial problems. The most striking findings were trait boredom's unique prediction of depression (an internalizing problem) and anger (an externalizing problem), over and above several other well-established trait variables, including neuroticism, impulsivity, emotional awareness, inattention, behavioral inhibition, and behavioral activation. The findings also confirmed predictions regarding differences between two main measures of trait boredom. Specifically, whereas the Boredom Proneness Scale was more closely linked to internalizing problems, the Boredom Susceptibility Scale was more closely linked to externalizing problems. This discrepancy is consistent with the growing body of literature suggesting that these two scales measure different types of trait boredom, and, more generally, that trait boredom is best conceptualized as a multidimensional construct. Implications of these findin...