Assembly Line Boredom and Individual Differences in Recreation Participation

Abstract

This pilot study examined relationships between job boredom and patterns of recreation participation in three groups of auto assembly line workers. One group installed single parts at a single stage of vehicle assembly; the second group installed a variety of parts at a single stage; the third group performed subassembly work and participated directly in the complete fabrication of a unit of manufacture. There was a trend toward less job boredom as assembly tasks required more complete fabrication. Recreation participation was measured by total days of engagement in a representative cross-section of activities during the summer of 1972. Scales were developed for cognitively and affectively appraised dimensions of perceived job boredom. Job boredom apparently motivated participation in certain activities which were important to workers because continued participation in them was more stimulating than their job. Mean levels of participation in these activities were not high, overall. Those who experienced relatively greater job boredom, and who wanted to compensate by more frequent participation in the recreation of their choice, were more aware of constraint from lack of time. A six-day work week contributed to perception of this constraint within this sample.