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Multitasking adults have hands full
USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), April, 2005
While a large number of American adults are multitasking, they are not necessarily succeeding in accomplishing more, relates a poll released by Scientific American Mind. According to the study, multitasking is widespread at home and work. Two-thirds of respondents indicated they cleaned the house, cooked, and took care of the kids simultaneously. Another 47% acknowledged reading or writing e-mail while talking on the phone. Almost 36% do other things while working, such as conducting business by phone while playing with the kids (29%).
Multitasking while working especially is prevalent among young adults and decreases with age. It is most widespread among 18- to 34-year-olds (51%); followed by 35- to 44-year-olds (40%); 45- to 54-year-olds (33%); and less prevalent among 55- to 64-year-olds (23%) and those over 65 (16%). Playing computer games while doing office work is quite popular among the 18-to-34 crowd (26%). Sixty percent of adults age 25 to 34 admitted to talking on the phone while reading or writing e-mail. Some 39% of 25- to 34-year-olds say they read while driving.
Multitasking apparently is the thing to do on the road. Six out of 10 adults acknowledged that they perform other tasks while driving. Despite proliferating laws restricting cell phone use, 50% said they spoke on a cell phone while at the wheel. Nearly one-quarter of respondents admitted to reading while driving, and 16% confessed to driving while performing grooming tasks, such as combing hair or applying make-up. Even the gym offers no haven from multitasking. Nine percent gave in to the self-defeating exercise of eating while working out.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Society for the Advancement of Education
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
