Lecture 7: IT, Stress and Occupational Health

How do the introduction and use of IT affect the stress levels and health of the users?
Occupational health problems in computer-supported (Visual Display Unit, VDU) work have been studied in a large number of research and evaluation studies. Thus, there is a great body of knowledge about the health problems and health risks in VDU work. The main problems are:

• Long hours of computer use - sedentary work at the computer for the main part of the day, constrained and static work postures
• Little or no control - the computer controls the work pace and task order, the users feel that they have little or no control over their work and over the computer system
• Stress - the job demands exceed the capabilities and skills of the user. The demands may consist of high workload and time pressure in combination with inadequate and poorly designed computer systems.

The Karasek demand-control model (see figure below) describes the relations between stress levels and work-related stress factors. According to this model, the combination of perceived demands and perceived control is a determining factor underlying work-related stress. High demands in combination with low control (decision latitude) create stress responses and tension that, in the long run, may lead to psychological or physical health problems.

The main health problems and symptoms in VDU work are:

• Eyestrain
• Repetitive strain injuries, primarily neck and shoulder pain and pain in the arms and/or hands, e.g. the mouse arm syndrome
• Psychological symptoms and stress-related psychosomatic complaints, e.g. headache, irritation and sleeping problems
• Skin problems and allergic reactions

How can we reduce or avoid the negative effects of IT use on stress and health?

• Improve the physical layout of the workplace - e.g. the room layout, the design of desks and chairs, lighting, monitors and ergonomic input devices
• Change the work organisation - the design and introduction of the computer systems
• Adapt the technology to the users
• Reduce information overflow to reduce stress
• Improve the design and contents of the computer systems, so that they better support the work practices and our way of thinking. This will increase the efficiency and decrease any unnecessary workload on the users, irritation, discomfort and stress.
• Eliminate or reduce technical problems to a minimum to reduce stress.

Many IT workers suffer from high strain in their work...

But in some respects, we haven't changed much since prehistoric man...

...in that pressure and high demands create stress responses in us. (Man in picture: "I said search!!!")

What about positive effects of IT use in the workplace? Are there only negative effects or are there any advantages with computerisation? Isn't it possible to use IT to reduce the workload and the pressure on the users?

What is the current situation regarding IT, stress and occupational health problems? Have we succeeded in eliminating the negative effects on the users' health? If not, then why have we failed?

"Poorly designed software, providing poor support for the work practices and the human way of thinking, creates unnecessary workload, irritation, discomfort and stress".

The Bad Day (5 mb video clip) illustrates what may happen when the user's had enough!

What future development of information technology, the software development process and the introduction and use of IT could contribute to improving the work environment and reduce the health risks in VDU work?

• using existing knowledge about HCI, health problems and health risk factors
• involving users in the software development process
• adapting the computer systems to the users and their work practices

The above provides a brief overview of occupational health issues in VDU work. In order to complete the picture you should read the literature and visit the links listed below.

Optional Reading

• Stress - översiktlig teoretisk bakgrund, by Carl Åborg (pdf - in Swedish).
• Arbetsmiljö och hälsa vid bildskärmsarbete, by Carl Åborg (pdf - in Swedish). Describes the problems and what to do about them as well as the characteristics of "healthy" VDU work.
• Användarcentrerad systemdesign, by Gulliksen & Göransson (see library), pp 79-85.