Associations of technostressors at work with burnout symptoms and chronic low-grade inflammation: a cross-sectional analysis in hospital employees

Abstract

Objective Despite the increasing scholarly interest in the phenomenon technostress, associated biological effects on employee health are under-researched. Chronic low-grade inflammation is suggested as a central pathway linking stress experience to disease development. The aim of this study was to assess associations of technology-related work stressors (technostressors) with low-grade inflammation and burnout symptoms. Methods N = 173 (74.6% women, Mage = 31.0 years) university hospital employees participated in a cross-sectional study. Self-report questionnaires were used for the assessment of general psychosocial working conditions (work overload, job control, social climate), a range of different technostressors, burnout symptoms, and relevant confounders. Participants provided capillary blood samples, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as an inflammatory biomarker was analyzed from dried blood spots. Results Based on a factor analysis, we identified four underlying dimensions of technostressors: techno- and information overload, techno-complexity, interruptions and multitasking as well as usability and technical support. In multivariate linear regressions, techno-/information overload and techno-complexity were associated with core (exhaustion, mental distance) and secondary (psychosomatic complaints) symptoms of burnout. Techno-/information overload was a significant predictor of burnout core symptoms, even when general work overload was controlled for. The technostressors were not associated with hs-CRP. Conclusion This is the first study on technology-related stress at work and chronic low-grade inflammation. The results suggest that (information) overload caused by digital technology use is a distinct work stressor with genuine consequences for psychological health. To what extent these effects also manifest on a physiological level needs to be subjected to future studies, ideally with prospective designs.

Role and Status of Biomarkers in Technostress Research: A Systematic Review

“…However, no HPA axis as well as no immune system responses were induced by these stressors. 34 Kaltenegger et al 30 conducted another study with the aim to assess association of technostressors with low-grade inflammation and burnout symptoms. The technostressors they chose were techno-overload, techno-complexity, technouncertainty, techno-insecurity, work interruptions, and multitasking.…”

“…The association remained significant when work overload was included in the multivariate model. [ 30 ] 10. Heart Rate Variability and Skin Conductance To study influence of technostress and financial stress on users’ digital financial decision-making responses N = 15 Influence of unexpected technology behaviours is much more than perceived financial loss on: physiological arousal and emotional valence; feedback processing and decision-making [ 31 ] 11.…”

Measuring Work Demands and Resources of Digitalisation: The ICT Resources and Stressors Scale

“…Based on the transactional stress model (Lazarus, 1966;Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), Tarafdar et al (2007) . Since its conceptualisation, technostress has been extensively investigated and expanded, and there is empirical evidence of its predictive value (see for example Ayyagari et al, 2011;D'Arcy et al, 2014;Galluch et al, 2015;Kaltenegger et al, 2023;Maier, 2014;Maier et al, 2015;Nimrod, 2018;Riedl, 2012;Riedl et al, 2012;Salanova et al, 2013;Sarabadani et al, 2018;Tarafdar et al, 2011). Technostress has been associated with job satisfaction, organisational commitment, turnover intentions, role overload, role conflict, reduced productivity, and increased role stress as well as with health outcomes such as exhaustion, burnout, and strain.…”

Academic Coverage of Social Stressors Experienced by Disabled People: A Scoping Review

“…Science and technology governance and technology-focused ethics discussions have as one goal to decrease the appearance of new social stressors and to decrease the presence of already existing social stressors as a consequence of scientific and technological advancements [39]. The term technostress reflects technology-induced stress [99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106]. It is argued that more studies are needed that link social stress to the automation literature [71].…”

“…It is well known that technologies can cause stress. The term technostress was coined to flag technology-based stress [99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106]. It is argued that more studies are needed that link social stress and automation literature [71].…”