How People Really Take Breaks: Insights for Human-Centered Office Space Design

Abstract

In Japan, workstyle reforms have progressed in response to long working hours; however, research examining how workday breaks contribute to employee recovery and how break spaces can be designed from a Human-Centered Design (HCD) perspective remains limited. This study aims to derive design implications for HCD-based break space design by comprehensively capturing office workers’ break behaviors. A mixed-methods research design was adopted. First, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 263 office workers across four office buildings to assess worker attributes, break behaviors, and recovery experiences. Chi-square tests and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to investigate differences in break behaviors and factors influencing recovery. Next, beacon-based behavioral data were collected over approximately two months from 20 participants in a multi-area break space, enabling objective analysis of area usage. Semi-structured interviews with the same participants were conducted to explore factors influencing space use. The results indicated significant differences in break behaviors depending on building characteristics. Napping showed the strongest positive association with recovery and was more likely to occur in environments with dimmed lighting. Beacon data revealed frequent use of peripheral areas that allowed users to avoid others’ gaze, whereas an open central area was rarely used. Interview findings suggested that concerns about being observed by others inhibited use of otherwise attractive spaces. These findings demonstrate that spatial characteristics strongly influence break behaviors and recovery, highlighting the necessity of designing break spaces that support recovery by balancing functional affordances with psychological comfort, such as visual exposure to others and social context.

Keywords: Break Behavior, Recovery, Break Space Design, Human-centered Design, Occupational Ergonomics

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007942