Risk factors affecting subjective symptoms of fatigue due to the environment of high school students' computer workstation in the republic of Korea

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the risk factors influencing subjective symptoms of fatigue through computer workstation monitoring of Korean high school students. [Methods] Six-hundred and eighty-five high school students were surveyed, and the independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were conducted to determine subjective symptoms of fatigue according to gender and hours of computer use, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the correlations between subjective symptoms of fatigue and computer workstations, and multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine risk factors influencing subjective symptoms of fatigue. SPSS 12.0 was used to conduct the statistical analysis. [Results] Subjective symptoms of fatigue were stronger among females than males. The longer subjects rested, the less the subjective symptoms of fatigue were. There were correlations between subjective symptoms of fatigue and computer workstations, and musculoskeletal symptoms turned out to be a risk factor influencing subjective symptoms of fatigue. [Conclusion] This study identified the factors influencing subjective symptoms of fatigue at computer workstations, and consequently, the need to create specialized computer environments within schools to minimize fatigue symptoms was recognized.