Effect of activity preference on attention restoration in lifeguards

The purpose of this study was to see if there is a relation between the perceived restorativeness of activities and the actual attention restoration brought about by participating in those activities. Lifeguards rated the perceived restorative potential of eight break time activities (playing computer solitaire, swmiming laps, doing cleaning duties, doing homework, reading a book or magazine, doing a word search or other similar puzzle, sleeping or resting, and listening to music) using the Perceived Restorative for Activity Scale (PRAS). Lifeguards then participated in scanning responsibilities followed by one of the aforementioned break time activities. The lifeguards were tested for attention both before and after the activity to see the effect of the activity on their attention. This process was repeated so that each lifeguard participated in two break time activities: the activity they rated as being the most restorative and the activity they rated as least restorative. A simple t test found that there was no significant relation between perceived restorativeness and actual restorativeness of break time activities. However, it was found that break time activities in general were helpful at restoring attention.