[CIT] Finals MA: Computer-Related Health Risks

Occupational Health Psychology (OHP)

• Interdisciplinary area of psychology that is concerned with the health and safety of workers.

• Emerged from the two disciplines: health psychology and organizational psychology.

Occupational Health Psychology (OHP)

• This area of psychology includes topic areas such as: 

  • impact of occupational stressors on physical and mental health

  • The impact of involuntary unemployment on physical and mental health

  • work-family balance

  • workplace violence and other forms of mistreatment

Ergonomics

• The process of designing or arranging workplaces, products, and systems so that they fit the people who use them.

• AKA human engineering or biotechnology

Ergonomics

The discipline involves looking at how objects can be designed and/or arranged to best compliment easy and safe human interaction.

Human Engineering or Biotechnology

The other term/s for Ergonomics

Ergon

The Latin word for “work”

Ergonomics

• The study of ________ looks at making man and machine work together most efficiently, especially in the workplace. 

Ergonomics

Aims to create safe, comfortable and productive workspaces by bringing human abilities and limitations into the design of a workspace, including the individual’s body size, strength, skill, speed, sensory abilities (vision, hearing), and even attitudes.

Lower back pain

Recent research has shown that _______ is the world’s most common work-related disability – affecting employees from offices, building sites and in the highest risk category, agriculture.

Ergonomic chair

A chair that has been designed to best support the human body, including considerations like posture, comfort, support and health.

Technostress

• Defined as the negative psychological link between people and the introduction of new technologies.

Technostress

• It is a result of altered habits of work and collaboration that are being brought about due to the use of modern information technologies at office and home situations.

Technostress

People experience this when they cannot adapt to or cope with information technologies in a healthy manner.

Decreased job satisfaction, organizational commitment and productivity

Consequences of Technostress

The quick pace of technological change, Lack of proper training, An increased workload, Lack of standardization within technologies, The reliability of hardware and software

What are the 5 causes of Technostress?

Physical Aspects, Emotional Aspects, Behavioral Aspects, Psychological Aspects

What are the 4 Aspects of Technostress?

Physical Aspects

4 Aspects of Technostress

• Includes headaches, stiff shoulders, neck pain, joint pain, dry mouth and throat, muscle tension, stomach discomfort, keyboard related injuries, chest pain, rapid heart rate, irritable bowel syndrome, increased blood pressure and difficulty in breathing.

Emotional Aspects

4 Aspects of Technostress

• Includes irritability, loss of temper, having a high state of anxiety when separated from a computer monitor, feelings of indifference, frustration, lack of appreciation, depression, guilt, feeling fearful, paranoia that leads to avoiding computers and negative attitudes.

Behavioral Aspects

4 Aspects of Technostress

• Consist of feeling overly comfortable with computers, overspending on computers, insomnia, uncooperativeness and unwillingness, using computer terms in non-computer conversation, smoking, social withdrawal in favor of terminal time, cruising computer stores and drinking alcohol.

Psychological Aspects

4 Aspects of Technostress

• Composed of information overload in order to find, analyze, evaluate, and apply it in the right context with resources, underwork and routine jobs lead to frustrations when underemployed or when the work done involves only routine operations, job security, where people have a fear that computers may replace human roles, professional jealousy produced by technological competency, de-motivation due to prolonged periods of any technological activity, uncertainty about job role caused by an increased time working with technology.

Techno-Overload, Techno-Invasion, Techno-Complexity, Techno-Insecurity, Techno-Uncertainty

What are the 5 conditions classified as “Technostress Creators”?

Techno-Overload

Technostress Creators

• Describes situations where use of computers forces people to work more and work faster.

Techno-Invasion

Technostress Creators

• Describes being “always exposed” where people can potentially be reached anywhere and any time and feel the need to be constantly connected.

• The regular work-day is extended, office work is done at all sorts of hours, and it is almost impossible to "cut away."

Techno-Complexity

Technostress Creators

• Describes situations where the complex computer systems used at work force people to spend time and effort in learning and understanding how to use new applications and to update their skills.

• People find the variety of applications, functions, and jargon intimidating and consequently feel stressed.

Techno-Insecurity

Technostress Creators

• Associated with situations where people feel threatened about losing their jobs to other people who have a better understanding of new gadgets and computing devices.

Techno-Uncertainty

Technostress Creators

• Relates to short life cycles of computer systems. Continuing changes and upgrades do not give people a chance to acquire experience with a particular system.

• People find this unsettling because their knowledge becomes rapidly outdated and they are required to re-learn things very rapidly and often.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Occupational disease that occurs when muscle groups are forced through repetitive actions with high-impact loads or thousands of repetitions with low impact loads

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

This occupational disease frequently affects:

• Wrists And Hands

• Forearms And Elbows

• Neck And Shoulders

• Other Areas Of Your Body Can Also Be Affected.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Symptoms of this occupational disease include:

• Pain, Ranging From Mild To Severe

• Tenderness

• Swelling

• Stiffness

• Tingling Or Numbness

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

• Type of RSI in which pressure on the median nerve through the wrist’s bony carpal tunnel structure produces pain. 

palm side

• The median nerve is located on the ______ of your hand (also called the carpal tunnel).

Median Nerve

• The _______ provides sensation (ability to feel) to your thumb, index finger, long finger, and part of the ring finger. It supplies the impulse to the muscle going to the thumb. Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur in one or both of your hands.

Designer Yves Behar

"Ergonomics is about design that treats the body well.”

1950

• The word Ergonomics appeared in _____, when the study of efficiency in the workplace became a science (even if your lumpy desk chair tells you otherwise).

Stretching

• There are many benefits to regular ______. Not only can this help increase your flexibility, which is an important factor of fitness, but it can also improve your posture, reduce stress and body aches, and more.

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), Migraines and Headaches, Internet Gaming Disorder, Internet Addiction Disorder

What are the 4 Health Risks?

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)

4 Health Risks

• Eye strain condition related to computer display screen use; symptoms include headaches, blurred vision, and dry irritated eyes. 

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)

4 Health Risks

• Resulting from focusing the eyes on a comp or other display device for protracted, uninterrupted periods of time and the eye’s muscles being unable to recover from the constant tension required to maintain focus on a close object.

Vertigo

Being a little dizzy sounds funny, but ______ is a serious issue. Imagine feeling like you’re going to fall over all the time. And sometimes you do. ______ is closely related to migraines.

Eye Workout / Eye Yoga

Movements that claim to strengthen and condition the muscles in your eye structure. People who practice this are often hoping to improve their vision, treat symptoms of dry eye, and decrease eye strain.

Eye Yoga

There’s some evidence that _____ might actually be able to help with your ability to focus your eyes and help relieve eye strain symptoms.

Migraines and Headaches

4 Health Risks

• Excessive staring at a screen can contribute to the severity and frequency of both. Your eyes are literally brain stalks that have the ends exposed to the world. So everything you do with your eyes directly affects your brain.

Migraines and Headaches

4 Health Risks

Staring at a bright light is bound to cause strain, leading to pain, and eventually a ______. For people who are already prone to ______, excessive screen time can make them more frequent and worse.

Digital eye strain

• The direct result of spending too much time staring at a screen. Although headaches are a common symptom of _________, you might also experience blurry vision, dry eyes, and tension in the neck and upper back.

• The condition can even lead to psychological symptoms, like irritability and reduced attention span, according to the Vision Council. It’s prevalent in office workers and particularly common in those who wear contact lenses or glasses.

Face Yoga Exercise

• A great way to work on your flexibility and strength. Just about everyone can do it, too– it's not just for people who can touch their toes or want to meditate.

• Some types of ____ are about relaxation. In others, you move more. Most types focus on learning poses, called asanas. They also usually include attention to breathing.

Ashtanga and power yoga

• Some styles of yoga, such as _______, are very physical. Practicing one of these styles will help you improve muscle tone.

Iyengar or hatha

• But even less vigorous styles of yoga, such as _______, can provide strength and endurance benefits.

Internet Gaming Disorder

4 Health Risks

• Addiction to gaming is described in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, it recognized this disorder in the section recommending conditions for further research. 

Internet Gaming Disorder

4 Health Risks

• The DSM-5 notes that gaming must cause "significant impairment or distress" in several aspects of a person's life. 

Internet Gaming Disorder

4 Health Risks

• The proposed symptoms of _______ include:

  • Preoccupation with gaming

  • Withdrawal symptoms when gaming is taken away or not possible (sadness, anxiety, irritability)

  • Tolerance, the need to spend more time gaming to satisfy the urge

  • Inability to reduce playing, unsuccessful attempts to quit gaming

  • Giving up other activities, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities due to gaming

  • Continuing to game despite problems

  • Deceiving family members or others about the amount of time spent on gaming

  • The use of gaming to relieve negative moods, such as guilt or hopelessness

  • Risk, having jeopardized or lost a job or relationship due to gaming

Internet Addiction Disorder

4 Health Risks

• Its concentration is on compulsion with the Internet– as other areas of media addiction can be seen in television addiction, radio addiction, and other types of media addiction.

Internet Addiction Disorder

4 Health Risks

• This disorder, in addition to other dependency disorders, seem to affect the pleasure center of the brain. The addictive behavior triggers a release of dopamine to promote the pleasurable experience activating the release of this chemical.

Internet Addiction Disorder

4 Health Risks

• The most commonly identified categories of this disorder include: 

  • Social Networking

  • Email

  • Blogging

  • Online Shopping

  • Inappropriate Internet Pornography Use.

Emotional Symptoms

______ Symptoms of Internet Addiction Disorder:

• Depression

• Dishonesty

• Feelings of guilt

• Anxiety

• Feelings of Euphoria when using the Computer

• Inability to Prioritize or Keep Schedules

• Isolation

• No Sense of Time

• Defensiveness

• Avoidance of Work

• Agitation

• Mood Swings

• Fear

• Loneliness

• Boredom with Routine Tasks

• Procrastination

Physical Symptoms

______ Symptoms of Internet Addiction Disorder:

• Backache

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Headaches

• Insomnia

• Poor Nutrition (failing to eat or eating in excessively to avoid being away from the computer

• Poor Personal Hygiene (e.g., not bathing to stay online

• Neck Pain

• Dry Eyes and other Vision Problem

• Weight Gain or Loss

Super computer

What type of computer is used for weather forecasting?

Techno-Overload

is a type of techno stress wherein employers feel that they are expected to accomplish more within a limited time. They feel overwhelmed by a constant stream of information. It occurs due to continuous messages and notifications coming in from multiple sources.

Techno-Insecurity

is a type of techno stress that involves concern from employees that they will lose their job or status because new technology will replace or change their position. Employees constantly feel a need to upgrade their technology.

Emotional

Which aspect of Technostress is this?

• Paranoia

Psychological

Which aspect of Technostress is this?

• Professional jealousy

Physical

Which aspect of Technostress is this?

• Irritable bowel syndrome

Behavioral

Which aspect of Technostress is this?

• Using computer jargons in everyday convos

Psychological

Which aspect of Technostress is this?

• Demotivation

Emotional

Which aspect of Technostress is this?

• Loss of temper

Behavioral

Which aspect of Technostress is this?

• Cruising computer stores

None

Which aspect of Technostress is this?

• Computer Game Delusions