Aspects of Work Load and the Level of Psychophysiological Functions of Middle to Elderly Aged Female Workers

Abstract

In order to best utilize middle to elderly aged female workers, aspects of work load and the level of Psychophysiological functions of middle to elderly aged female workers in a sewing factory have been investigated through field research. In addition, these results have been compared with a field research study of male workers in a machine factory. The results obtained were as followes ; l) The level of many Psychophysiological functions before and after work were significantly lower for the middle to elderly aged female workers than for the younger female workers in a sewing factory. 2) The complaints of subjective feelings of fatigue, of sites of physical fatigue symptoms and of cumulative fatigue index in the middle to elderly aged female workers were lower compared with those of the younger female workers in a sewing factory. The clear correspondence of the decrease of the level of Psychophysiological functions to feelings of fatigue was not recognized with the increasing age. 3) The decrease of Psychophysiological functions of middle to elderly aged female workers was not recognized and the complaint rates of feelings of fatigue were lower through daily work in a sewing factory. It was not observed that there was any difference in ability or in job performance between middle to elderly aged female workers and younger female workers. The tendencies for 1)-3) were comparatively similar to the results of middle to elderly aged male workers in a machine factory. Therefore, it was suggested that there was the adaptablity of middle to elderly aged workers for these light job regardless of sex. 4) The job consciousness, the Self-Actualization, the sense of job achievment and the weariness in female workers in a sewing factory showed different tendencies when compared with those of male workers in a machine factory. 5) The Ist category, "dullness and drowsiness" was the dominant pattern in subjective feelings of fatigue in middle to elderly aged female workers observed before and after work in a sewing factory. It was also surmised that work load was comparatively light. It was also thought that accumlated skills and knowledge in middle to elderly aged female workers had to be put to practical use in these light jobs.