Diagnosis Boreout Suffering boredom

Boreout syndrome as a result of long-term under-demanding at work

07/28/2014

Not only an excessive demand in the job can lead to mental discomfort, but also an under-demand is often associated with considerable stress on the psyche. This so-called Boreout syndrome manifests itself in symptoms similar to the much better known burnout syndrome and, in the worst case scenario, can lead to long-term disability.

The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Baua) describes the cause of the Boreout syndrome, the ongoing mental underwear, which „is caused quantitatively when activities that are uniform in time have to be performed and qualitatively when the performance requirements are greater than the requirements.“ Often the under-demand becomes psychological stress, which can also cause physical discomfort. Although the topic, inter alia, through the book „Diagnosis Boreout“ Swiss company consultants Philippe Rothlin and Peter Werder from 2007 have increasingly become the focus of public discussion, so far many companies have lacked strategies for avoiding under-demands and dealing with those affected.

Sub-demand for compulsory transfer
The news agency „dpa“ reported in her latest report on the topic of "Boreout" by a person who was clearly under-challenged after his forced transfer in the profession. Torsten Gottschall had worked in the disabled work of a municipal administration in Schleswig-Holstein and had barely had idle there. In 2005, the transfer to the controlling, but the social scientist could do little with the numbers and statistics. „They wanted to get rid of me“ and „suddenly I had no task anymore“, the news agency quotes the person concerned. The work is „less and less“ become. Gottschall would have liked to do more, because „the stress was that I was no longer expected.“

Covering the under-demand causes stress
From the successful social scientist and trained psychotherapist, who had previously directed an old-age institution, was „suddenly I'm a zero“, said Gottschall to the „dpa“. For years he sat at his desk and counted every minute. Activities like surfing the internet or reading books were not allowed. Instead, Gottschall taught himself how to handle various useful computer programs and, according to himself, pulled out every task enormously to give the impression that he was busy. However, these attempts to cover up the under-demand lead, according to the experts, to particularly high levels of stress.

Physical complaints due to under-demand
Andrea Lohmann-Haislah of the Baua describes as possible consequences of permanent over-demanding „dpa“ similar symptoms as with persistent overload. Here are mainly depression, chronic back pain and cardiovascular diseases to call. Those affected feel worthless and impotent. On top of that, most people try to make a busy impression so as not to jeopardize their jobs. „I can not talk about boredom at a time when performance is the measure of all things and everyone is fighting for their job“, quotes the „dpa“ the Austrian sociologist Elisabeth Prammer.

With own initiative against Boreout
According to the experts, workers in administrative or service jobs are particularly likely to be affected by bore-outs, where tasks are increasingly being rationalized or performed by software. Business consultant Philippe Rothlin calls here officials with office jobs in the financial industry as highly vulnerable. In order to avoid the development of a Boreout syndrome, the self-initiative of employees is crucial. „You have to do something yourself“, so Rothlin opposite the „dpa. Actively request tasks from the supervisor and, if necessary „develop new things without being asked“, the expert recommends. Under no circumstances should endangered persons of boredom arise. In case of emergency, a job change must be considered. Torsten Gottschall, who works full-time in his own psychotherapeutic practice today, has also gone that route „dpa“ is very busy. One can only hope that this will not be an overload next. After all, the self-employed tend to be particularly affected by burnout. Overall, the impression remains that it is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve a reasonable occupational load. (Fp)