Stress, Workload, and Fatigue as Three Biobehavioral States: A General Overview

Abstract

A framework is presented in which mental load, stress, and fatigue are regarded as distinct biobehavioral states generated by different factors in the work environment, involving different mechanisms, and resulting in different cognitive, affective, and bodily reactions. Macroconcepts, such as mental load and stress, are often confounded because they refer to similar phenomena and are used interchangeably in daily life. A high workload, for example, is assumed to result in stress and fatigue reactions, such as psychosomatic and psychological complaints, whereas it is also maintained that working under conditions of stress and fatigue enhances the subjective workload. Moreover, some people are able to work efficiently under high levels of work pressure without experiencing feels of stress, whereas stress reactions may occur when the workload is low or when there is no workload at all (see also Gaillard & Wientjes, 1994).