Boredom in the workplace: More than monotonous tasks

Abstract

Boredom is an emotional state that has a long history in organizational research. Despite recent changes in technology and the organization of work, boredom remains a part of the experience of work. The available evidence indicates that boredom is associated mainly with negative individual and organizational outcomes. The authors organize the review of the antecedents of boredom around four major themes in the literature: boredom in relation to jobs; individual differences; social context; and goals and coping. The authors conclude that the major challenge for researchers is to provide an integrative account of boredom which subsumes multiple areas of research, and that one most promising avenue for future research requires further attention to boredom in relation to coping processes, pursuit and attainment of personal goals.