Information and communication technology demands at work: the association with job strain, effort-reward imbalance and self-rated health in different socio-economic strata

Abstract

PurposeThe use of information and communication technology (ICT) is common in modern working life. ICT demands may give rise to experience of work-related stress. Knowledge about ICT demands in relation to other types of work-related stress and to self-rated health is limited. Consequently, the aim of this study was to examine the association between ICT demands and two types of work-related stress [job strain and effort-reward imbalance (ERI)] and to evaluate the association between these work-related stress measures and self-rated health, in general and in different SES strata.MethodsThis study is based on cross-sectional data from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health collected in 2014, from 14,873 gainfully employed people. ICT demands, job strain, ERI and self-rated health were analysed as the main measures. Sex, age, SES, lifestyle factors and BMI were used as covariates.ResultsICT demands correlated significantly with the dimensions of the job strain and ERI models, especially with the demands (r = 0.42; p < 0.01) and effort (r = 0.51; p < 0.01) dimensions. ICT demands were associated with suboptimal self-rated health, also after adjustment for age, sex, SES, lifestyle and BMI (OR 1.49 [95 % CI 1.36–1.63]), but job strain (OR 1.93 [95 % CI 1.74–2.14) and ERI (OR 2.15 [95 % CI 1.95–2.35]) showed somewhat stronger associations with suboptimal self-rated health.ConclusionICT demands are common among people with intermediate and high SES and associated with job strain, ERI and suboptimal self-rated health. ICT demands should thus be acknowledged as a potential stressor of work-related stress in modern working life.

Technostress: Implications for Adults in the Workforce

“…For instance, a proactive personality that is disposed to confront a situation and transform it can lessen the impact of communication overload on productivity (Hung, Chen, & Lin, ). Technostress can differ depending on job type and user socioeconomic status (e.g., Stadin et al, ). Technostress is perceived differently in large and small organizations and can be mitigated with organizational‐level interventions (Salanova et al, ; Tarafdar, Bolman‐Pullins, & Ragu‐Nathan, ), such as providing training in advance of ICT changes to increase self‐efficacy, implementing strategies to balance work/personal life (e.g., flexible work schedules), and addressing organizational culture and expectations.…”

“…Use of information and communications technologies (ICT), such as cell phones, voice mail, e‐mail, and instant messaging, can challenge employees by creating a range of stressors, including overload, role ambiguity, and job insecurity (Fenner & Renn, ; Grant, Wallace, & Spurgeon, ; Knani, ). ICT can create somatic stress responses (e.g., Riedl, ; Riedl, Kindermann, Auinger, & Javor, ) and is associated with job strain, poor self‐rated health, and workplace effort–reward imbalance (Stadin, Nordin, Broström, Magnusson Hanson, Westerlund, & Fransson, ).…”

Analysis of Stress Factors for Female Professors at Online Universities

“…Virtual university professors can be included in that category [1]. On the other hand, in this new scenario the use of virtual environments has been normalized without having evaluated the vulnerability of the people who work in them to negative effects derived from technological innovations, such as higher levels of stress and physical (musculoskeletal disorders) and psychological disorders (burnout, anxiety, and depression), with the consequent increase in work absenteeism [14][15][16][17][18].…”

Repeated exposure to high ICT demands at work, and development of suboptimal self-rated health: findings from a 4-year follow-up of the SLOSH study

“…ICT facilitates many job tasks, provides more flexible work and may contribute to increased work efficiency (Barber and Jenkins 2014 ; Chesley 2014 ; Swedish Work Environment Authority 2015a ). On the other hand, aspects such as a high amount of emails and telephone calls, expectations of high availability via ICT devices, and problems with ICT devices that do not work properly, are all potential stressors in the modern industrialised work environment (Barber and Santuzzi 2015 ; Day et al 2012 ; Stadin et al 2016 ; Stenfors et al 2013 ).…”

“…ICT-related stress has been associated with poor health-related outcomes such as suboptimal (i.e., below the optimal standard) general self-rated health (SRH), cognitive complaints involving problems with concentration, memory, decision-making and ability to think clearly, sleep disturbances, burnout and sickness absenteeism (Barber and Jenkins 2014 ; Barber and Santuzzi 2015 ; Hennington et al 2011 ; Stadin et al 2016 ; Stenfors et al 2013 ). However, the knowledge about ICT-related stress and its association with different health-related outcomes over time is still very limited, and additional studies have been called for (Swedish Work Environment Authority 2015a ).…”