Research from the American Psychological Association reveals that mental exertion is often associated with unpleasant feelings during challenging tasks.

A comprehensive meta-analysis of 170 studies, involving 4,670 participants from 29 countries, has established a consistent link between mental effort and negative emotions.

The findings, published in the Psychological Bulletin on August 5, 2024, emphasize the need for supportive environments to help manage cognitive challenges.

Senior author Erik Bijleveld cautions against the common assumption that individuals enjoy mental challenges, noting that most people actually dislike mental effort.

Despite the discomfort associated with mental challenges, individuals often engage in these tasks for the potential long-term rewards rather than enjoyment.

The research suggests that educators should not automatically assume that more challenging lessons will engage students effectively.

The value placed on effortful tasks may stem from the belief that rewarding such efforts encourages individuals to tackle more difficult challenges in the future.

Interestingly, the association between mental effort and unpleasant feelings was less pronounced in studies conducted in Asian countries, indicating that cultural factors may influence perceptions of mental exertion.

Bijleveld notes that the enjoyment derived from activities like chess may be more about the perceived benefits than a true enjoyment of the mental effort involved.

Despite the negative feelings associated with mentally challenging tasks, individuals voluntarily engage in them, often due to anticipated rewards.

The study highlights the importance for professionals, including educators and engineers, to consider the unpleasant nature of mental effort when designing tasks and tools.

Managers are warned that imposing high cognitive demands without adequate support can lead to employee burnout.