Understanding Workers' Well-Being and Cognitive Load in Human-Cobot Collaboration: Systematic Review

Industry 5.0 emphasizes human centricity by prioritizing human well-being alongside technological advancements. Collaborative robots (cobots) in industrial settings represent one such advancement, and their integration, particularly in manufacturing, is reshaping production processes. Although previous studies have addressed these issues, no systematic review has yet synthesized findings on how cobots impact operators' affective well-being and cognitive workload.

This study focused on psychological dimensions, which are often overlooked, particularly affective states, addressing a gap in the existing literature that has mainly emphasized the impact of cobots on the physical and cognitive workload. Specifically, we aimed to systematically review empirical studies investigating affective well-being (ie, anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms) and cognitive workload in human-cobot collaboration (HCC) within industrial settings.

We conducted a comprehensive systematic search of the literature using several databases (Web of Science, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, and IEEE Xplore). Eligibility criteria included peer-reviewed empirical studies reporting quantitative or qualitative data on cognitive workload or affective well-being in HCC. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection and data extraction.

This review included a total of 46 studies. Findings indicated a significant increase in publications from 2020 onward, reflecting the growing interest in HCC. Most studies (28/46, 61%) were conducted in controlled laboratory settings with university students or researchers, highlighting a gap in real-world industrial research. Results indicated that, while cobots have been shown to alleviate physical fatigue and enhance job satisfaction, they also introduce new psychological challenges, including stress and anxiety symptoms due to concerns about job security and the pressures of high-paced operations. The speed at which cobots operate represents a factor affecting operators' affective well-being and cognitive workload alongside the proximity of cobots, the system usability, and the complexity of the tasks assigned. With regard to cognitive workload, studies using physiological and self-report measures (38/46, 83%) consistently found that higher task complexity significantly raised both cognitive workload and stress levels.

This review identified key factors that influence operators' affective well-being and cognitive workload when working with cobots. These insights can guide the development of longitudinal research and intervention strategies, ensuring that the integration of cobots supports both productivity and operators' well-being in manufacturing environments. To support effective implementation, future studies should be conducted in real-world settings using standardized assessment instruments, physiological measures, and qualitative interviews.