Self-Report Measures of Boredom: An Updated Review of the Literature

ABSTRACT

A detailed review of the psychometric measures of boredom was published approximately 12 years ago (Vodanovich, 2003). Since that time, numerous studies have been conducted on existing scales, and new measures of boredom have been developed. Given these assessment advancements, an updated review of self-report boredom scales is warranted. The primary focus of the current review is research published since 2003, and it includes a total of 16 boredom scales. The measures reviewed consist of two trait assessments (Boredom Proneness Scale, Boredom Susceptibility subscale of the Sensation Seeking Scale), five context-specific trait boredom scales (Boredom Coping Scale, Leisure Boredom Scale, Free Time Boredom Scale, Sexual Boredom Scale, Relational Boredom Scale), three assessments of state boredom (Multidimensional State Boredom Scale, State Boredom Measure, Boredom Experience Scale), and six context-specific state boredom measures–Lee's Job Boredom Scale, Dutch Boredom Scale, Boredom Coping Scale (Academic), the Boredom subscale of the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire, Academic Boredom Scale, Precursors to Boredom Scale. In addition to providing a review of these measures, a brief critique of each scale is included, as well as suggestions for needed research focus.

Keywords:

• boredom
• trait boredom
• state boredom
• assessment
• boredom proneness

Author Notes

Stephen J. Vodanovich is a Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of West Florida. His research interests include boredom, workaholism, ageism, and equal employment law. John D. Watt is a Clinical Associate Professor of Management in Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. His primary research interests include employee attitudes, work engagement, and boredom.

Notes

1 In Eastwood et al. (2007) and Goldberg et al. (2011), BCS scores were positively related to negative affect (e.g., boredom proneness) but BCS scores were adjusted so that high BCS scores indicated more difficulty in coping with boredom.

2 Vogel-Walcutt et al. (2012) provide a review article on state boredom. However, their paper is primarily an in-depth coverage of the various definitions of boredom with only a small segment devoted toexisting self-report measures.