A new study suggests that chronic boredom grips one-fourth of office workers, which may affect their quality of work as well as their physical and mental health, HealthDay News reported.

British occupational psychologist Sandi Mann asked 102 office workers if they got bored at work and, if so, how they managed that boredom.

Twenty-five percent of respondents confirmed that they suffered from chronic boredom at work, and said they often eat chocolate or drink coffee to cope. They also said they were more likely to drink alcohol at the end of day.

Nearly 80 percent of those polled said boredom causes them to lose their concentration, and more than half said it causes them to make mistakes. About half of the workers questioned admitted that boredom might lead them to look for a new job.

Commenting on the research, Mann, of the University of Central Lancashire, said: "My analysis of the results suggests that the most significant cause of office boredom is an undemanding workload. So managers should look at ways of reducing sources of workplace boredom and at encouraging healthier ways of coping."

She added that job rotation and other enrichment programs might help reduce boredom in the workplace. She also commented that providing workers with healthy snacks and drinks might encourage them to avoid unhealthy indulgences.

(China.org.cn January 18, 2012)

据健康日新闻报道，一份新研究表明，1/4的办公室职员受长期性厌倦的困扰，这可能会影响他们的工作质量以及身心健康。

英国职业心理学家桑迪·曼调查了102名办公室职员，问他们是否在工作中感到无聊，以及怎样应对。

25%受访的人证实，他们长期感到厌倦，经常通过吃巧克力，喝咖啡来应对。他们还说，一天结束后他们更可能喝酒。

近80%接受调查的人说，厌倦使他们不能集中精力，五成以上的人说，厌倦使得他们出错。近一半接受调查的职员承认，厌倦会迫使他们辞职。

来自兰开夏郡中部大学的曼评论该研究时表示：“我对这些结果的分析表明，办公厌倦最重要的成因是工作量不重。所以管理人员应该研究如何减少办公厌倦的来源，如何鼓励采取更健康的应对办法。”

她补充道，工作岗位轮换和其它的充实计划能降低工作场所的无聊程度。她还说，给员工提供健康的小食品和饮料可鼓励他们远离不健康的嗜好。