A Large Database Study of the Factors Associated with Work-induced Fatigue

A computer survey was conducted using the records of 3705 temporary employees who reported job fatigue during their assignments; 10,000 additional employees, who did not report fatigue, were also surveyed in order to establish base rates. Low job challenge, poor-quality supervision, low job control, poor job performance, and low pay rates were associated with employees' experiencing job fatigue. Low physical demand and low information-processing demand positions were also associated with the experience of fatigue, possibly because these variables fell below minimal thresholds necessary to maintain arousal and avoid boredom. The upper portion of the arousal-performance curve was not properly evaluated in this survey. Fatigue may result from processing too much or too little information. Motivational factors probably serve to moderate this relationship.