A Systematic Review of Cognitive Workload, Biomechanical Responses, and Psychosocial Factors in Occupational and Experimental Settings.
Disciplines
Ergonomics
Abstract (300 words maximum)
This systematic review investigates the impact of cognitive workload and psychosocial factors on biomechanical responses in occupational and experimental settings. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, yielding 1,328 papers. Following the PRISMA guidelines, duplicates were removed, and studies were screened based on language (English), peer-reviewed status, and inclusion criteria—excluding studies that only reviewed previous papers, classified postures without experimental evaluation, or focused solely on exoskeleton assessments—resulting in 25 final studies. Then the 25studies were assessed for quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. Data collected for review included publication years, participant demographics, task characteristics, measured outcomes, assessment tools, and statistical methods used for analysis. The review highlights that cognitive workload, and psychosocial stressors significantly influence biomechanical responses, affecting postural stability, muscle activity, and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. However, key gaps remain: many studies used tasks that differed from real-life activities, limiting ecological validity; most did not incorporate biological measurements of workload, reducing physiological insight; and several used equipment that constrained natural movement. To address these gaps, future research should prioritize task designs that closely resemble real-world conditions, integrate physiological workload measures such as heart rate variability or cortisol analysis, and employ minimally restrictive motion-tracking technologies. These strategies will improve the accuracy and applicability of findings, leading to better workplace safety interventions and ergonomic solutions.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Industrial and Systems Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Valentina Nino
A Systematic Review of Cognitive Workload, Biomechanical Responses, and Psychosocial Factors in Occupational and Experimental Settings.
This systematic review investigates the impact of cognitive workload and psychosocial factors on biomechanical responses in occupational and experimental settings. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, yielding 1,328 papers. Following the PRISMA guidelines, duplicates were removed, and studies were screened based on language (English), peer-reviewed status, and inclusion criteria—excluding studies that only reviewed previous papers, classified postures without experimental evaluation, or focused solely on exoskeleton assessments—resulting in 25 final studies. Then the 25studies were assessed for quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. Data collected for review included publication years, participant demographics, task characteristics, measured outcomes, assessment tools, and statistical methods used for analysis. The review highlights that cognitive workload, and psychosocial stressors significantly influence biomechanical responses, affecting postural stability, muscle activity, and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. However, key gaps remain: many studies used tasks that differed from real-life activities, limiting ecological validity; most did not incorporate biological measurements of workload, reducing physiological insight; and several used equipment that constrained natural movement. To address these gaps, future research should prioritize task designs that closely resemble real-world conditions, integrate physiological workload measures such as heart rate variability or cortisol analysis, and employ minimally restrictive motion-tracking technologies. These strategies will improve the accuracy and applicability of findings, leading to better workplace safety interventions and ergonomic solutions.