interaction of temperature, illuminance and apparent time on sedentary work fatigue

Abstract

Changes in subjective fatigue and mood were measured using the Feeling Tone Check List and Mood Adjective check list as 12groups of 12 participants (144 total) wearing indoor clothing wrote stories to accompany pictures in ambient temperatures of 13, 23 or 30°C under illuminations of 100 or 300 lx while viewing either a slow, accurate or fast clock. Fatigue increased in warm air and declined in cool air. The fast clock decreased fatigue in cool air and the slow clock increased fatigue in warm air. Mood was significantly poorer in the cool-bright (300lx × 13°C) and warm-dim (1001x×30°C) conditions. Productivity, measured in terms both of numbers of stories and number of words written, was greater in cool air. Females responded more favourably to bright illumination and their judgements suggested greater field dependence. It is concluded that cooler than normal air may be suitable for sedentary work provided that illumination is properly adjusted. Subjective. fatigue and mood are clearly influenced by the perception of ambient conditions having minimal physiological effect.

Keywords:

• Temperature
• illumination
• apparent time
• sex
• subjective fatigue
• sedentary work

Additional information

Notes on contributors

M. JOHNSON

Now at the Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.