Trait Boredom Research Articles

Boredom proneness and inattention in children with and without ADHD: the mediating role of delay aversion

ObjectiveA high tendency to boredom and delay aversion are commonly observed traits among children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. However, the interplay between boredom, delay aversion, and ADHD symptoms remains unclear. It is unknown, for example, whether a predisposition to boredom predicts difficulties in sustaining attention because of susceptibility to delay aversion. This study investigated the potential mediating role of delay aversion in the relationship between boredom and inattentive behaviors in children with and without ADHD.MethodsParent- and self-ratings of boredom proneness, delay aversion, and inattention symptom severity of 93 children with ADHD and 90 typically developing controls (aged 9–16 years) were included in analysis.ResultsBoth parent- and self-ratings showed that children with ADHD had significantly elevated levels of trait boredom, delay aversion, and inattention compared to controls. Trait boredom, delay aversion, and inattention were inter-correlated. The parent-ratings showed that children with a higher level of trait boredom tended to be more inattentive, and this effect was partially explained by the mediating role of delay aversion.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the relation between boredom and inattention may be at least partially explained by the mediating role of delay aversion in children within and without ADHD.

The effect of boredom, psychopathy and sadism on unprovoked aggression towards others

Purpose The authors examined whether state boredom, psychopathy, sadism and trait boredom proneness would increase the tendency to inflict physical pain on others. Previous research suggests that state boredom increases aggression in individuals with high sadistic traits. This study aims to examine whether psychopathic traits similarly interact with boredom to predict unprovoked aggression. Design/methodology/approach Participants viewed a boring (men folding laundry) or interesting (BBC Deep Sea documentary) video mood induction before playing an online game under the ruse that there was another participant in the other room. The “winner” of the game was then given the chance to blast their opponent with white noise – presumably, an unpleasant experience. Findings While boredom proneness and psychopathy were highly correlated in the sample (with a stronger relation between boredom proneness and secondary psychopathy), boredom proneness showed no relation to the intent to inflict pain on others. In fact, in moderation models, state boredom dampened the relation between primary psychopathy and aggressive actions such that those low in boredom and high in psychopathy were more likely to administer louder and longer noise blasts to their opponent. Neither state boredom nor trait boredom proneness moderated the relation between sadism and aggression strength. The authors interpret these counterintuitive findings in the context of models of boredom and psychopathy. Research limitations/implications As the sample was conducted on a university population, there may be limited generalizability for individuals with clinical levels of psychopathy. Originality/value This paper examines the link between boredom and aggressive behaviour in those with psychopathic traits, a relation that has not previously been examined in depth.

Academic Boredom in Medical Students: The Role of Perceived Classroom Goal Structures and Task Value

Introduction: Academic boredom is a prevalent issue in educational settings, affecting a significant proportion of students, therefore, Identifying its underlying factors is crucial. This study aimed to predict academic boredom among medical students based on their perceptions of classroom goal structure and task value. Methods: This is a cross-sectional correlational study. The statistical population included all medical students at Kashan University of Medical Sciences during the year 2024, from which 435 students were selected through stratified random sampling. Participants completed Midgley’s Perceived Classroom Goal Structure Questionnaire, Pintrich’s Task Value Scale, Pekrun’s Academic Boredom Questionnaire, Li’s Trait Boredom Scale, and a demographic questionnaire form. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: The results showed that after controlling for the effects of age, gender, and students' trait boredom, the variables of task value (β=-0.270, P<0.001) and mastery-oriented goal structure (β=-0.239, P<0.001) were negatively and significantly associated with academic boredom, while performance-avoidance goal structure (β=0.111, P=0.029) was positively and significantly particioated academic boredom in students. Overall, 32.3% of the variance in students' academic boredom was explained by the model. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that a mastery-oriented classroom goal structure and students' perceptions of intrinsic task value can help reduce academic boredom. In contrast, a performance-avoidance goal structure may increase academic boredom. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing educational strategies that highlight the intrinsic value of tasks and promote mastery goals rather than focusing on competition and failure avoidance, thereby contributing to reducing academic boredom and enhancing the educational experience of medical students.

Pace of Life Is Faster for a Bored Person: Exploring the Relationship Between Trait Boredom and Fast Life History Strategy.

Life history theory suggests that in harsh, unpredictable environments, individuals may benefit from adopting a fast life history strategy. This may involve experiencing boredom more frequently and intensely as an adaptive mechanism to seek novel stimuli, potentially increasing the number of sexual partners and offspring. This study explored the relationship between trait boredom-a chronic characteristic of feeling bored-and fast life history strategies. Our findings confirmed a positive association between boredom proneness and fast life history strategies at both individual and country levels. In Study 1, fast life history strategy was positively correlated with boredom proneness and mediated the relationship between perceived childhood support/resources and boredom proneness. In Study 2, we conducted a multi-level analysis using secondary data from 15 countries. The results showed that countries with higher boredom proneness scores showed more indicators of faster life history strategies. These results suggest that trait boredom may be a functional characteristic of fast life history strategists. This study is the first empirical investigation of trait boredom within a life history framework, highlighting trait boredom's functional role from evolutionary and ecological perspectives.

“I Am Easily Bored.” Analysis of a Single Item Measure of Boredom

Measuring a variety of human characteristics in large databases has been invaluable for applied (e.g., epidemiology) and basic research (e.g., brain imaging). The sheer volume of data being collected can place high demands on participants. This raises the challenge of how to maximize the reliability of measures while minimizing the burden on participants. We examined the viability of a single item to measure trait boredom proneness by having participants respond to the question “I am easily bored.” Results indicated that this single item effectively captures relations typically observed when using longer state and trait boredom measures. Psychological network analyses suggested that the item accords well with models of trait boredom as a failure to launch. We discuss potential contexts in which deploying a single item of this kind may prove advantageous.

Filling the void: boredom’s associations with hoarding symptom severity

In hoarding disorder, features including attentional difficulties and emotion dysregulation can contribute to the core symptoms of clutter, difficulties discarding, and excessive acquisition. Boredom is a negative feeling state that shares a high level of overlap with associated features of hoarding, including inattention, depressive symptoms, and impulsivity, and has been implicated in compulsive buying behaviors. Boredom may be a particularly relevant factor in compulsive hoarding; however, this relationship remains significantly under-researched. The present studies aimed to thoroughly investigate associations between boredom and hoarding severity using diverse methodologies. Study 1 (N = 253) replicated, in an online community sample, previously reported positive associations between hoarding severity and recent state boredom while statistically controlling for potentially confounding variables (e.g., depression, indecisiveness), and extended these findings to include boredom proneness. In Study 2, individuals with elevated hoarding symptoms (n = 56) and a history of hoarding problems (n = 43) reported higher levels of recent state and trait boredom than controls (n = 61). Additionally, boredom was associated with performance on simulated acquiring and discarding tasks. Finally, Studies 3a (N = 144) and 3b (N = 146) attempted the first experimental tests of induced boredom on acquiring and discarding behaviors. Although results were mixed and preclude causal conclusions, exploratory analyses revealed that individuals reporting higher in-the-moment boredom took more (p = .008) and discarded fewer (p = .021) items on the simulated tasks. Overall, results suggest that boredom may have crucial implications in hoarding symptom severity.

The kids are bored: Trait boredom in early childhood and links to self-regulation, coping strategies, and parent–child interactions

The kids are bored: Trait boredom in early childhood and links to self-regulation, coping strategies, and parent–child interactions

Exploring the relationship between boredom proneness and agency

Exploring the relationship between boredom proneness and agency

Validation of a German version of the Boredom Proneness Scale and the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale

The scientific interest in boredom is growing over the past decades. Boredom has not only been linked to symptoms of psychopathology, but also shows a remarkable effect on individual behavior under healthy conditions. Current characterizations of boredom in humans mostly rely on self-report assessments which proved to faithfully reflect boredom in a vast range of experimental environments. Two of the most commonly used and prominent self-report scales in order to assess boredom are the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS) and the Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS). Here, we present the German translations of both questionnaires and their validation. We obtained and analyzed psychometric data from more than 800 healthy individuals. We find that the German MSBS and BPS show vast congruence with their originals in respect to item statistics, internal reliability and validity. In particular, we find remarkable associations of state boredom and trait boredom with indicators of mental burden. Testing the factor structure of both questionnaires, we find supporting evidence for a 5-factor model of the MSBS, whereas the BPS in line with its original shows an irregular, inconsistent factor structure. Thus, we validate the German versions of MSBS and BPS and set a starting point for further studies of boredom in German-speaking collectives.

The Relationship between Senior High School Students’ Foreign Language Learning Boredom and English Achievement

This study aims to examine how Foreign Language Learning Boredom (FLLB) is related to foreign language achievement of Chinese senior high school students in an English as a foreign language context. Informed by the control-value theory, the questionnaire of FLLB was administered to 128 senior high school Chinese students in grade one. Analysis of the questionnaire data and the final English exam scores shows that FLLB among senior high school students in China was at a medium level. Specifically, of the seven dimensions, the level of PowerPoint presentation boredom was the highest, while the level of Teacher-dislike boredom was the lowest; a negative correlation was found between students’ FLLB and English achievement. Of seven dimensions, foreign language classroom boredom, under-challenging task boredom, homework boredom, general learning trait boredom, and over-challenging or meaningless task boredom were significantly relevant to English final exam scores. Moreover, FLLB contributed significantly to the negative prediction of English test scores.

High state boredom vastly affects psychiatric inpatients and predicts their treatment duration

Boredom is a ubiquitous, aversive human experience typically elicited by low information and monotony. Boredom can occur either as a transient mental state that prompts individuals to adapt their behavior to avoid monotony or as a temporally stable trait, describing a chronic susceptibility to feeling bored. Increased trait boredom was found to correlate with various psychopathologies and indicators of mental burden. However, the role of state boredom in psychopathological conditions and its implications for psychiatric treatment remain elusive. Here, we address this issue by investigating state boredom and trait boredom in a cohort of psychiatric inpatients and a healthy control cohort. We find that in both groups, state boredom, even more than trait boredom, shows remarkable associations with psychopathology. In the inpatient group, state boredom is implicated broadly in multiple mental disorders and shows an association with treatment in closed psychiatric wards. Furthermore, through statistical modeling, we find that high-state boredom during inpatient therapy is predictive of a longer therapy duration. Thus, we show that state boredom constitutes an indicator of mild and severe psychopathology in different mental disorders, affecting the outcome of psychiatric patients. Potential therapeutic interventions are discussed, aiming to enhance information flow in the brain in order to alleviate boredom in clinical settings.

Associations Between Trait Boredom and Frequency of Cannabis, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use in College Students.

Boredom is a common emotion associated with substance use in college students - a group already at risk for substance misuse. The purpose of this study is to understand how two types of trait boredom (susceptibility and proneness) in college students are associated with frequency of cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco use. Data were collected from an online survey completed by a sample of undergraduate students (N = 414, Mage = 19.55, 84.5% female; 64.3% White) enrolled at a large public university in the northwest. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between trait boredom and frequency of cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco use after controlling for age, sex, and race. Boredom susceptibility was a significant predictor of annual, monthly, and weekly cannabis and alcohol use, but only annual and monthly tobacco use. Boredom proneness was only a significant predictor for monthly alcohol use. Findings were generally consistent across types of substances and frequency of use for boredom susceptibility, indicating students higher in susceptibility, rather than proneness, are a subgroup to target prevention interventions to alleviate boredom and subsequent maladaptive coping mechanisms.

Bored with boredom? Trait boredom predicts internet addiction through the mediating role of attentional bias toward social networks.

Internet addiction is an emerging issue, impacting people's psychosocial functioning and well-being. However, the prevalence and the mechanisms underlying internet misuse are largely unknown. As with other behavioral addiction disorders, the increase and persistence of internet addiction may be favored by negative affect such as boredom. In this study, we examined the role of boredom susceptibility, as a personality trait, in predicting the risk of internet addiction. Furthermore, we analyzed the attentional mechanisms that may exacerbate dysfunctional internet behaviors. Specifically, we assessed the mediating role of attentional bias toward social media cues on the relation between boredom susceptibility and internet addiction. Sixty-nine young adults were administered a dot-probe task assessing internet-related attentional bias (AB) and questionnaires measuring internet addiction (IAT) and boredom susceptibility (BS-BSSS). Correlation and t-test analyses confirmed that the tendency to experience boredom and selective attention toward social network information was related to internet addiction. Furthermore, the mediation model indicated that AB fully explains the link between BS-BSSS and IAT. The study highlighted the crucial role of selective attentional processing behind internet addiction. The current results are useful for both researchers and clinicians as they suggest that intervention programs for internet addiction should include strategies to cope with dysfunctional cognitive processes.

A little help from my friends: Lack of social interaction predicts greater boredom during the COVID‐19 pandemic

AbstractWere people bored during the pandemic, and if so why? One possibility is lack of social interaction due to restrictions on social activity intended to slow the spread of communicable disease. In a 3‐week daily diary study (n = 438; international community sample) social interaction predicted boredom and its consequences. People felt more bored on days when they engaged in less social interaction than usual (in‐person or virtually), largely driven by a lack of meaning. In turn, boredom predicted lower well‐being concurrently, and more virtual interaction the next day; people dispositionally higher in trait boredom also reported more solitary (but not partnered) sexual activity. In conclusion, this study suggests that maintaining social connections, even during a pandemic, may be important to mitigate boredom and improve overall well‐being.

Exploring the Relation between State and Trait Boredom and Various Measures of Creativity

Exploring the Relation between State and Trait Boredom and Various Measures of Creativity

Older and Wiser? Age-related Change in State and Trait Boredom During Adolescence and Associations with Neural Correlates of Self-regulation.

The purpose of the current study was to examine age-related change in state and trait boredom in 12- to 17-year-old adolescents and test whether neurophysiological correlates of self-regulation relate to boredom during adolescence in the same way that has been found in adults. Eighty-nine 12- to 17-year-old adolescents participated. Three types of trait boredom were measured: boredom proneness, leisure boredom, and boredom susceptibility. State boredom was also measured after completing a boredom induction task while EEG was recorded. Slopes in frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) were extracted from the EEG as a measure of approach (leftward shifts) or avoidance (rightward shifts). A curvilinear relationship between age and boredom proneness and age and boredom susceptibility was observed, indicating trait boredom rises and falls across adolescence. State boredom, by contrast, increased linearly with age. Slopes in FAA inversely related only to boredom proneness, indicating higher levels of this type of trait boredom related to an avoidant response as a state of boredom ensues. We suggest the rise and fall of trait boredom across adolescence may be due to changes in person-environment fit during middle adolescence, whereas state boredom may increase with age due to improvements in attentional processes that mundane lab tasks do not satisfactorily engage. The link between FAA and only one type of trait boredom indicates self-regulatory processes and boredom are not yet strongly coupled in adolescence. Implications for prevention of negative behavioral health outcomes associated with high levels of trait boredom are discussed.

Trait Boredom as a Lack of Agency: A Theoretical Model and a New Assessment Tool.

Trait boredom plays a significant role in well-being. However, this construct suffers from conceptual ambiguity and measurement problems. The aim of this study was to propose a comprehensive theory and a strong assessment tool to address these limitations. We defined trait boredom as the frequent experience of state boredom resulting from a chronic lack of agency. We developed a six-item self-report scale of the tendency to often experience boredom. Results confirmed a uni-dimensional scale with strong psychometric properties, including adequate internal consistency (ω = .84-.93), interindividual stability (69.04% of variance accounted by a trait factor), and acceptable model fit (CFI = .977-.998, TLI = .962-.997, RMSEA = .025-.090, SRMR = .014-.029). Results confirmed the validity of the scale by showing its associations with related measures. Our findings provide clarity on trait boredom and a strong, new measure to be used in future work.

Exploring Foreign Language Learning Boredom in EFL Class among Primary Students in China

The present study explores the English learning boredom in second language acquisition among Chinese primary school students’ about causes and its effect on English learning performance. Data were collected from 160 Chinese primary school students who answered the Foreign Language Writing Boredom Scale (FLLBS) questionnaire. The FFLBS adopted a 5-point Likert response format. After statistical analysis, main findings were: (1) FLLBS has three main factors including Foreign Language Classroom and Task boredom (FLLBS1), General Learning Trait Boredom (FLLBS2) and PowerPoint Presentation Boredom (FLLBS3). (2) No significantly difference was shown between male and female students. This research filles a gap for English learning boredom in Chinese primary schools and can lay a foundation for further studies in this field.

In Response to Warnings: Exploring Individual Differences in Sustained Attention Performance

Sustained attention paradigms can assess an individual’s ability to maintain continuous effort and accurate response rate over a period of time. Measuring individual differences in vigilance capabilities and factors that influence performance can be foundational in the design of user-centered technologies and protocols. In the current work, 137 participants completed the SART (Sustained Attention to Response Task) where half ( n = 69) received a warning that they would have to re-start the task if they fell below a performance threshold and the remainder ( n = 68) received no such warning. Measures of trait boredom proneness, state-based boredom, and motivation were also collected. Results indicated that the presence of a warning stimuli (extrinsic motivator) significantly affected overall performance on the SART. Discussion focused on how individual differences in the completion of “boring” tasks influences performance on work-related task outcomes.

Examining the Longitudinal Associations between Adjustment Disorder Symptoms and Boredom during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a myriad of stressors, underscoring the relevance of adjustment disorder during these extraordinary times. Boredom—as a feeling and as a dispositional characteristic—is an equally pertinent experience during the pandemic that has been cross-sectionally linked to various mental health difficulties. The current longitudinal study expanded on this work, examining the associations between adjustment disorder symptoms and boredom (both as a feeling and as a trait) over time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Community participants completed questionnaires three times, rating their trait boredom at Time 1 and their feelings of boredom and adjustment disorder symptoms (preoccupation with a pandemic stressor and failure to adapt) over the past week at Times 1–3. Latent growth curve analyses found that an increase in feelings of boredom was significantly associated with increased preoccupation with a pandemic stressor and increased difficulties with adapting over time. Additionally, trait boredom significantly predicted changes in preoccupation and the failure to adapt, such that participants high in trait boredom increasingly struggled with these symptoms over time. Our results suggest that increased feelings of boredom and a trait disposition towards boredom can be detrimental to people’s ability to adjust over time to the stressors associated with the pandemic. Boredom, as an aversive state and as a chronic difficulty, may be important to address in treatment approaches for adjustment disorder symptoms during COVID-19.