Gajewski Patrick D, Stahn Catharina, Zülch Joachim, Wascher Edmund, Getzmann Stephan, Falkenstein Michael
Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany.
Ifaa - Institute of Applied Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Front Psychol. 2023 Sep 12;14:1229503. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1229503. eCollection 2023.
The demographic change requires longer working lifetime. However, fear of job loss may lead to chronic stress whereas aging and unchallenging work may accelerate cognitive decline and early retirement. Long-time repetitive work led to impairments of cognitive functions in middle-aged and older employees, as demonstrated in a previous study conducted in a large car manufacturer. In the present study, a training concept was implemented to enhance the cognitive and emotional competence of these employees.
A first group of employees received a trainer-guided cognitive training only, whereas a wait list control group received a cognitive training and stress management training. This design was applied in two independent samples separated by one year either during or after a socioeconomically tense situation of the factory.
In sample 1, with a tense occupational situation, the cognitive training effects occurred with a delay of three months. In contrast, in sample 2, with less critical socioeconomic situation, the training effects occurred immediately and persisted three months later. Stress management training showed reduction of subjectively and objectively measured stress level.
The results indicate that effects of cognitive interventions are diminished under chronic stress which can be reduced after a short stress management training. This leads also to enhanced attention and memory in daily life. In contrast, in Sample 2 with less chronic stress, effects of cognitive training were stronger and persisted at least three months later, whereas stress management training had less impact. This suggests that cognitive learning in occupational settings is only efficient at lower stress levels.
人口结构的变化要求延长工作寿命。然而，对失业的恐惧可能导致慢性压力，而衰老和缺乏挑战性的工作可能加速认知衰退和提前退休。正如之前在一家大型汽车制造商进行的研究所表明的，长期重复性工作会导致中年及老年员工的认知功能受损。在本研究中，实施了一项培训方案以提高这些员工的认知和情感能力。
第一组员工仅接受了培训师指导的认知训练，而一个等待名单对照组接受了认知训练和压力管理训练。这种设计应用于在工厂处于社会经济紧张状况期间或之后相隔一年的两个独立样本中。
在样本1中，由于职业状况紧张，认知训练效果延迟三个月出现。相比之下，在样本2中，由于社会经济状况不那么严峻，训练效果立即出现并在三个月后持续存在。压力管理训练显示主观和客观测量的压力水平有所降低。
结果表明，在慢性压力下认知干预的效果会减弱，而经过短期压力管理训练后这种情况可以得到缓解。这也会增强日常生活中的注意力和记忆力。相比之下，在慢性压力较小的样本2中，认知训练的效果更强且至少在三个月后持续存在，而压力管理训练的影响较小。这表明在职业环境中的认知学习仅在较低压力水平下才有效。
