University of South Florida, Tampa.
Hum Factors. 2018 Mar;60(2):222-235. doi: 10.1177/0018720817738845. Epub 2017 Nov 13.
Objective We sought to define and measure four types of perceived interruptions and to examine their relationships with stress outcomes. Background Interruptions have been defined and measured in a variety of inconsistent ways. No study has simultaneously examined the subjective experience of all types of interruptions. Method First, we provide a synthesized definition and model of interruptions that aligns interruptions along two qualities: origin and degree of multitasking. Second, we create and validate a self-report measure of these four types of perceived interruptions within two samples (working undergraduate students and working engineers). Last, we correlate this measure with self-reported psychological and physical stress outcomes. Results Our results support the four-factor model of interruptions. Results further support the link between each of the four types of interruptions (intrusions, breaks, distractions, and a specific type of ruminations, discrepancies) and stress outcomes. Specifically, results suggest that distractions explain a unique portion of variance in stress outcomes above and beyond the shared variance explained by intrusions, breaks, and discrepancies. Conclusion The synthesized four-factor model of interruptions is an adequate representation of the overall construct of interruptions. Further, perceived interruptions can be measured and are significantly related to stress outcomes. Application Measuring interruptions by observation can be intrusive and resource intensive. Additionally, some types of interruptions may be internal and therefore unobservable. Our survey measure offers a practical alternative method for practitioners and researchers interested in the outcomes of interruptions, especially stress outcomes.
目的 我们旨在定义和测量四种类型的感知干扰，并研究它们与应激结果的关系。 背景 干扰已以各种不一致的方式进行了定义和测量。没有研究同时检查了所有类型干扰的主观体验。 方法 首先，我们提供了一个中断的综合定义和模型，该模型将中断沿着两个特征进行分类：来源和多任务处理的程度。其次，我们在两个样本（工作的本科生和工作的工程师）中创建并验证了这些四种感知中断的自我报告测量方法。最后，我们将此测量方法与自我报告的心理和生理压力结果相关联。 结果 我们的结果支持中断的四因素模型。结果进一步支持了四种类型的干扰（闯入、中断、分心和一种特定的沉思、差异）与压力结果之间的联系。具体而言，结果表明，分心在压力结果中解释了独特的部分方差，超过了闯入、中断和差异共同解释的方差。 结论 中断的综合四因素模型是中断整体结构的充分代表。此外，感知干扰可以被测量，并且与压力结果显著相关。 应用 观察中断可能会具有侵入性且资源密集。此外，某些类型的干扰可能是内部的，因此无法观察到。我们的调查测量方法为对中断（尤其是压力结果）的结果感兴趣的从业者和研究人员提供了一种实用的替代方法。
