Editorial

5 pages, 291 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology-Related Stress and Stress Related to Workplace Innovations: From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations

by Gabriele Giorgi, Antonio Ariza-Montes, Nicola Mucci and Antonio L. Leal-Rodríguez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031248 - 23 Jan 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5057

Abstract

This Special Issue provides new insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with new workplace paradigms and business transformations [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

16 pages, 2864 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Deterrence Mechanisms Reduce Cyberloafing When It Is an Observed Workplace Norm? A Moderated Mediation Model

by Mengmeng Song, Joseph Ugrin, Man Li, Jinnan Wu, Shanshan Guo and Wenpei Zhang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 6751; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136751 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3103

Abstract

Despite the documented individual, job, and organizational antecedents of cyberloafing at the workplace, few studies have addressed whether, how and when group factors affect employees’ cyberloafing behaviors. Drawing on social learning theory and general deterrence theory, the purpose of this study is to [...] Read more.

Despite the documented individual, job, and organizational antecedents of cyberloafing at the workplace, few studies have addressed whether, how and when group factors affect employees’ cyberloafing behaviors. Drawing on social learning theory and general deterrence theory, the purpose of this study is to test if observability of coworkers’ cyberloafing behavior affects employees’ perceptions of norms related to cyberloafing and subsequent cyberloafing behaviors and to test if sanctions can play a role in buffering these effects. An investigation of 335 employees working at Chinese enterprises establishes that observing others engaging in cyberloafing influences the employees’ perceived norms and cyberloafing behaviors and that employees’ perceived norms related to cyberloafing play a partial mediating role in the relationship between observability and employees’ cyberloafing. As predicted, we also found that perceived certainty and severity of potential sanctions for cyberloafing moderate the effect of observability on employees’ cyberloafing as well as the indirect effect of observability on employees’ cyberloafing via perceived norms related to cyberloafing. This study enriched the cyberloafing literature by revealing how observability of cyberloafing influences employees’ cyberloafing and by unveiling two boundary conditions under which the cyberloafing learning effect can be buffered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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15 pages, 638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Stress at Work: Its Impact over Absenteeism and Innovation

by Martin Sanchez-Gomez, Gabriele Giorgi, Georgia Libera Finstad, Federico Alessio, Antonio Ariza-Montes, Giulio Arcangeli and Nicola Mucci

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5265; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105265 - 15 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4378

Abstract

Economic stress has been recognized as a major threat to the well-being and performance of workers, especially during times of global economic crisis. An interesting and relatively unexplored research topic concerns the associations between economic stress and employee job outcomes such as innovative [...] Read more.

Economic stress has been recognized as a major threat to the well-being and performance of workers, especially during times of global economic crisis. An interesting and relatively unexplored research topic concerns the associations between economic stress and employee job outcomes such as innovative behaviors, indispensable for business survival. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between economic stress, absenteeism and innovation. We considered both a direct and a mediation hypothesis and hypothesized that economic stress can have a negative influence on innovation directly and indirectly through increased absenteeism. A cross-sectional study was performed during 2018 and 2019 in an Italian food factory. A sample of 578 employees completed the Stress Questionnaire, the Janssen’s nine-item scale and a single-item regarding absenteeism. All relationships are supported by empirical data. As expected, the results indicated that economic stress is negatively related to innovation and positively related to absenteeism, which, in turn, plays a mediating role in the relationship between economic stress and innovative behavior. Herewith, those employees with higher levels of economic stress show higher levels of absenteeism contributing at the same time to a decrease in innovative behaviors. These findings show the importance of economic stress in understanding individual work outcomes and highlight the need to promote adequate intervention programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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20 pages, 1436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Overwhelmed by Technostress? Sensitive Archetypes and Effects in Times of Forced Digitalization

by Óscar. R. González-López, María Buenadicha-Mateos and M. Isabel Sánchez-Hernández

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4216; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084216 - 16 Apr 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4324

Abstract

This paper explores technostress and its dimensions, assessing the relationship with possible negative effects in the individual, social and professional sphere. The study uses a self-reported approach of undergraduate students in Spain (n = 337), forced to follow their academic life by [...] Read more.

This paper explores technostress and its dimensions, assessing the relationship with possible negative effects in the individual, social and professional sphere. The study uses a self-reported approach of undergraduate students in Spain (n = 337), forced to follow their academic life by using technology comprehensively because of social distancing, as a public health action necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The analysis, based on the exploration of a system of archetypes of the use of social networks, presents insights into contemporary technostress management as a new approach that can suppose opportunities for the optimization of prevention plans. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling based on partial least squares (SEM-PLS) were the methods used for achieving the goals. The results reveal valid and reliable measures where technostress has a high impact on the individual sphere of students and there is a significant relationship between the type of user and techno-anxiety. The conclusions point to the imperative for developing a deeper understanding of technostress by archetypes, in both a higher education context (as antecedent) and the world of work, in an irreversible move towards a digital economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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13 pages, 768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Instant Messages Reduce Psychological Withdrawal Behaviors?—Mediation of Engagement and Moderation of Self-Control

by Xia Jiang, Jing Du, Tianfei Yang and Yujing Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 2983; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062983 - 14 Mar 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3044

Abstract

Enabling people to send and receive short text-based messages in real-time, instant messaging (IM) is a communication technology that allows instantaneous information exchanges. The development of technology makes IM communication widely adopted in the workplace, which brings a series of changes for modern [...] Read more.

Enabling people to send and receive short text-based messages in real-time, instant messaging (IM) is a communication technology that allows instantaneous information exchanges. The development of technology makes IM communication widely adopted in the workplace, which brings a series of changes for modern contemporary working life. Based on the conservation of resource theory (COR), this paper explores the mechanism of workplace IM communication on employees’ psychological withdrawal, and investigates the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship and the moderating role of self-control. Using the experience sampling method (ESM), a 10-consecutive workdays daily study was conducted among 66 employees. By data analysis of 632 observations using SPSS and HLM, results found that: (1) IM demands had a positive relation with emotion and cognitive engagement. (2) Emotion and cognitive engagement were negatively correlated with psychological withdrawal. (3) Emotion and cognitive engagement mediated the relations of IM demands and psychological withdrawal. (4) Self-control moderated the relationship between emotional engagement and psychological withdrawal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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13 pages, 739 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Presenteeism, Overcommitment, Workplace Bullying, and Job Satisfaction: A Moderated Mediation Relationship

by Francisco Rodríguez-Cifuentes, Samuel Fernández-Salinero, Juan Antonio Moriano and Gabriela Topa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(22), 8616; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228616 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3910

Abstract

Presenteeism is a hazardous behaviour that may have personal and organizational consequences. The main objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between presenteeism and job satisfaction and evaluate the role of overcommitment as a mediator and the role of work-related and [...] Read more.

Presenteeism is a hazardous behaviour that may have personal and organizational consequences. The main objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between presenteeism and job satisfaction and evaluate the role of overcommitment as a mediator and the role of work-related and personal bullying as moderators in these relationships. Results from 377 subjects showed that presenteeism and overcommitment are positively related to job satisfaction, with overcommitment being a mediator in the relationships. These relationships are moderated by work-related bullying but not by personal bullying. The findings are discussed, and implications, future research pathways, and limitations are noted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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17 pages, 718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hotels’ Eco-Friendly Physical Environment as Nature-Based Solutions for Decreasing Burnout and Increasing Job Satisfaction and Performance

by Jongsik Yu, Antonio Ariza-Montes, Felipe Hernández-Perlines, Alejandro Vega-Muñoz and Heesup Han

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(17), 6357; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176357 - 01 Sep 2020

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4728

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of the hotel’s nature-friendly environment on burnout, job satisfaction and job performance of hotel employees. A total of 11 hypotheses were set up to achieve the purpose of this study, and an empirical analysis was conducted based on [...] Read more.

This study investigates the effect of the hotel’s nature-friendly environment on burnout, job satisfaction and job performance of hotel employees. A total of 11 hypotheses were set up to achieve the purpose of this study, and an empirical analysis was conducted based on 309 surveys collected from hotel employees. A total of 11 hypotheses were set to achieve the research goals, and an empirical analysis was conducted based on a total of 309 pieces of data collected from 320 hotel employees who are currently working in 11 hotels in South Korea. As a result, eight hypotheses were accepted and three were rejected. Specifically, it was found that the hotel’s nature-friendly environment reduced burnout in employees, and indirectly had a significant effect on job satisfaction and job performance. Therefore, the relationship between the variables presented was clearly demonstrated through the research results, and the purpose of this study was satisfactorily explained. The results are expected to be of great help to hotel employees and researchers in developing strategies to efficiently manage hotel employees through nature-based solutions (NBSs). Based on the results, the proposed theoretical and practical implications are discussed in detail in the discussion section. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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17 pages, 719 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Teacher Technostress in the Chilean School System

by Carla Estrada-Muñoz, Dante Castillo, Alejandro Vega-Muñoz and Joan Boada-Grau

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5280; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155280 - 22 Jul 2020

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 6755

Abstract

The expanded use of information technology in education has led to the emergence of technostress due to a lack of adaptation to the technological environment. The purpose of this study is to identify the levels of technostress in primary and secondary education in [...] Read more.

The expanded use of information technology in education has led to the emergence of technostress due to a lack of adaptation to the technological environment. The purpose of this study is to identify the levels of technostress in primary and secondary education in 428 teachers using a RED-TIC questionnaire, of which skepticism, fatigue, anxiety, and inefficiency are the main components. For the empirical analysis of the data, principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used. The results show that 12% of Chilean teachers participating in the study feel techno-fatigued, 13% feel techno-anxious, and 11% present both conditions. Male teachers show a higher incidence of techno-anxiety and techno-fatigue than their female peers. It can be concluded that the questionnaire used is a reliable tool to evaluate the presence of technostress, and it manifests itself importantly in its components of techno-anxiety and techno-fatigue in Chilean teachers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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12 pages, 1596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilizing Green Design as Workplace Innovation to Relieve Service Employee Stress in the Luxury Hotel Sector

by Heesup Han, Antonio Ariza-Montes, Gabriele Giorgi and Soyeun Lee

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(12), 4527; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124527 - 23 Jun 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3617

Abstract

This study is an empirical endeavor to provide a clear comprehension regarding how hotel green design as a workplace innovation contributes to relieving employee stress and emotional fatigue and improves job satisfaction and involvement in the formation of organizational citizenship behavior. A quantitative [...] Read more.

This study is an empirical endeavor to provide a clear comprehension regarding how hotel green design as a workplace innovation contributes to relieving employee stress and emotional fatigue and improves job satisfaction and involvement in the formation of organizational citizenship behavior. A quantitative process was employed to attain the research goal. Our empirical findings demonstrated that a green design as a workplace innovation boosts the stress resilience that leads to the decreased emotional exhaustion and increased job satisfaction. In addition, job satisfaction and job involvement were the crucial drivers of the organizational citizenship behavior among the luxury hotel service employees. Moreover, stress resilience, satisfaction and involvement were significant mediators. Job satisfaction and involvement had the strongest influence on organizational citizenship behavior than other variables. The findings of our research will help hotel proprietors to invent efficient strategies to minimize employee stress and maximize fulfillment at work, which will eventually enhance the organizational citizenship behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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11 pages, 770 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Is Job Involvement Enough for Achieving Job Satisfaction? The Role of Skills Use and Group Identification

by Samuel Fernández-Salinero, Ángel García Collantes, Francisco Rodríguez Cifuentes and Gabriela Topa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(12), 4193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124193 - 12 Jun 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3481

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to evaluate the influence of job involvement over job satisfaction mediated through the professional skill use and moderated by group identification. The sample of the current research was composed of 420 subjects. The main results showed [...] Read more.

The main objective of this research is to evaluate the influence of job involvement over job satisfaction mediated through the professional skill use and moderated by group identification. The sample of the current research was composed of 420 subjects. The main results showed that job involvement was strongly related to skill use and group identification. Moreover, the interaction of job involvement and group identification is negatively related with skill use. Our results show that there is no statistically significant relationship between job involvement and job satisfaction. Furthermore, the use of skills is strongly related to job satisfaction. Lastly, we found that a strong group identification tends to harm job satisfaction values. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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20 pages, 959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Connected at Sea: The Influence of the Internet and Online Communication on the Well-Being and Life Satisfaction of Cruise Ship Employees

by Aleksandar Radic, Antonio Ariza-Montes, Felipe Hernández-Perlines and Gabriele Giorgi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(8), 2840; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082840 - 20 Apr 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4907

Abstract

This study aims to elucidate the idiosyncratic effects of the Internet and online communication on the well-being and life satisfaction of cruise ship employees. Cross-sectional surveys and covariance-based structural equation modelling tools were used. In addition, univariate variance analysis was used to address [...] Read more.

This study aims to elucidate the idiosyncratic effects of the Internet and online communication on the well-being and life satisfaction of cruise ship employees. Cross-sectional surveys and covariance-based structural equation modelling tools were used. In addition, univariate variance analysis was used to address the effects of socio-demographic variables (years of service on a cruise ship, working department on a cruise ship, gender, age, educational level and place of residency) on latent variables of the conceptual model. The conceptual model draws on existing theory and previous research and was empirically tested on a sample of cruise ship employee internet users. Result show that while being onboard a cruise ship, employees experience strong social pressure to be constantly available and they fear of missing out on important information and life events. Thus, relatedness to friends and family needs satisfaction is of paramount importance for cruise ship employees because they are fully aware that they are dispensable and replaceable to cruise ship companies, however to their friends and family, they are indispensable and unique. Moreover, employees who engage in other tasks/activities while taking part in online communication with friends and family exhibit reduced performance, which leads to poor interaction and social dissatisfaction. Lastly, employees experiencing under-reciprocating exchanges show significant negative effects on their well-being. Overall, the results provided several important theoretical and practical implications relevant to cruise tourism and human resource management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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15 pages, 1122 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Promotion of Technology Acceptance and Work Engagement in Industry 4.0: From Personal Resources to Information and Training

by Monica Molino, Claudio G. Cortese and Chiara Ghislieri

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2438; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072438 - 03 Apr 2020

Cited by 66 | Viewed by 9250

Abstract

Thanks to the rapid advances of technology, we are currently experiencing the fourth industrial revolution, which is introducing several changes in how organizations operate and how people learn and do their work. Many questions arise within this framework about how these transformations may [...] Read more.

Thanks to the rapid advances of technology, we are currently experiencing the fourth industrial revolution, which is introducing several changes in how organizations operate and how people learn and do their work. Many questions arise within this framework about how these transformations may affect workers’ wellbeing, and the Work and Organizational Psychology is called upon to address these open issues. This study aims to investigate personal and organizational antecedents (resilience, goal orientation and opportunities for information and training) and one consequence (work engagement) of technology acceptance within factories, comparing white- and blue-collar workers. The study involved a sample of 598 workers (white-collar = 220, blue-collar = 378) employed at an Italian company who filled in a self-report questionnaire. In both samples, the multi-group structural equation model showed a positive relationship between resilience, opportunities for information and training, and technology acceptance, which in turn showed a positive association with work engagement. All indirect effects were significant. This study investigated the motivational dynamics related to the introduction of new technologies within factories involving the little-studied population of blue-collar workers. Results highlighted the importance of providing information and opportunities for training to all employees, in order to support Industry 4.0 transformations without impacting on workers’ motivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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15 pages, 546 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Positive Work-Related Stress Affect the Degree of Innovation Development?

by Gema Albort-Morant, Antonio Ariza-Montes, Antonio Leal-Rodríguez and Gabriele Giorgi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(2), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020520 - 14 Jan 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5260

Abstract

Many studies sustain that work-related stress exerts pervasive consequences on the employees’ levels of performance, productivity, and wellbeing. However, it remains unclear whether certain levels of stress might lead to positive outcomes regarding employees’ innovativeness. Hence, this paper examines how the five dimensions [...] Read more.

Many studies sustain that work-related stress exerts pervasive consequences on the employees’ levels of performance, productivity, and wellbeing. However, it remains unclear whether certain levels of stress might lead to positive outcomes regarding employees’ innovativeness. Hence, this paper examines how the five dimensions of work-related stress impact on the employees’ levels of innovation performance. To this aim, this study focused on a sample of 1487 employees from six Italian companies. To test the research hypotheses under assessment, we relied on the use of the partial least squares (PLS) technique. Our results reveal that, in summary, the stressors job autonomy, job demands, and role ambiguity exert a positive and significant impact on the employees’ levels of innovativeness. However, this study failed to find evidence that the supervisors’ support–innovation and colleagues’ support–innovation links are not statistically significant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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11 pages, 702 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship Amongst Technology Use, Work Overload, and Psychological Detachment from Work

by Juan Sandoval-Reyes, Julio C. Acosta-Prado and Carlos Sanchís-Pedregosa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(23), 4602; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234602 - 20 Nov 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5426

Abstract

Permanent connection to the work world as a result of new technologies raises the possibility of workday extensions and excessive workloads. The present study addresses the relationship between technology and psychological detachment from work resulting from work overload. Participants were 313 professionals from [...] Read more.

Permanent connection to the work world as a result of new technologies raises the possibility of workday extensions and excessive workloads. The present study addresses the relationship between technology and psychological detachment from work resulting from work overload. Participants were 313 professionals from the health sector who responded to three instruments used in similar studies. Through PLS-SEM, regression and dependence analyses were developed, and through the bootstrapping method, significance of factor loadings, path coefficients and variances were examined. Results of the study corroborate a negative effect of technology use on psychological detachment from work and a positive correlation between technology and work overload. Additionally, there is a significant indirect effect of technology on psychological detachment from work as a result of work overload. Findings extend the literature related to the stressor-detachment model, and support the idea that workers who are often connected to their jobs by technological tools are less likely to reach adequate psychological detachment levels. Implications for the academic community and practitioners are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

19 pages, 573 KiB

Open AccessReview

How Are Techno-Stressors Associated with Mental Health and Work Outcomes? A Systematic Review of Occupational Exposure to Information and Communication Technologies within the Technostress Model

by Prem Borle, Kathrin Reichel, Fiona Niebuhr and Susanne Voelter-Mahlknecht

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(16), 8673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168673 - 17 Aug 2021

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 6583

Abstract

The technostress model has introduced different factors to consider when assessing how information and communication technologies impact individuals in different work settings. This systematic review gathers evidence regarding associations between occupational exposure to technostress and health or work outcomes. In addition, we highlight [...] Read more.

The technostress model has introduced different factors to consider when assessing how information and communication technologies impact individuals in different work settings. This systematic review gathers evidence regarding associations between occupational exposure to technostress and health or work outcomes. In addition, we highlight typical methodological constraints of the technostress model. We conducted electronic literature searches in June 2020 (PubMed, PubMed Central, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, PsycArticles) and independently screened 321 articles. We report on 21 articles meeting eligibility criteria (working population, technostress exposure, health or work outcome, quantitative design). The most frequently examined techno-stressors, i.e., factors of technostress, were techno-overload and techno-invasion. Techno-stressors were consistently associated with adverse health and work outcomes, apart from a positive impact on work engagement. However, studies may be subject to considerable conceptual overlap between exposure and outcome measures. Future technostress research would benefit from reducing heterogeneity in technostress measures, assessing their external validity and focussing on specific techno-stressors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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22 pages, 506 KiB

Open AccessReview

Is There a Sampling Bias in Research on Work-Related Technostress? A Systematic Review of Occupational Exposure to Technostress and the Role of Socioeconomic Position

by Prem Borle, Kathrin Reichel and Susanne Voelter-Mahlknecht

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 2071; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042071 - 20 Feb 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3429

Abstract

Technostress is a widespread model used to study negative effects of using information communication technologies at work. The aim of this review is to assess the role of socioeconomic position (SEP) in research on work-related technostress. We conducted systematic searches in multidisciplinary databases [...] Read more.

Technostress is a widespread model used to study negative effects of using information communication technologies at work. The aim of this review is to assess the role of socioeconomic position (SEP) in research on work-related technostress. We conducted systematic searches in multidisciplinary databases (PubMed, PubMed Central, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, PsycArticles) in June 2020 and independently screened 321 articles against eligibility criteria (working population, technostress exposure, health or work outcome, quantitative design). Of the 21 studies included in the narrative synthesis, three studies did not collect data on SEP, while 18 studies operationalised SEP as education (eight), job position (five), SEP itself (two) or both education as well as job position (three). Findings regarding differences by SEP are inconclusive, with evidence of high SEP reporting more frequent exposure to overall technostress. In a subsample of 11 studies reporting data on educational attainment, we compared the percentage of university graduates to World Bank national statistics and found that workers with high SEP are overrepresented in nine of 11 studies. The resulting socioeconomic sampling bias limits the scope of the technostress model to high SEP occupations. The lack of findings regarding differences by SEP in technostress can partly be attributed to limitations in study designs. Studies should aim to reduce the heterogeneity of technostress and SEP measures to improve external validity and generalisability across socioeconomic groups. Future research on technostress would benefit from developing context-sensitive SEP measures and quality appraisal tools that identify socioeconomic sampling biases by comparing data to national statistics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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23 pages, 3942 KiB

Open AccessReview

Technostress Dark Side of Technology in the Workplace: A Scientometric Analysis

by Giorgia Bondanini, Gabriele Giorgi, Antonio Ariza-Montes, Alejandro Vega-Muñoz and Paola Andreucci-Annunziata

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(21), 8013; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218013 - 30 Oct 2020

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 13500

Abstract

This article aims to provide a critical review of the scientific research on technostress. As such, global references in this field are identified and highlighted in order to manage pre-existing knowledge and establish future ‘bridges’ among researchers, and to enhance the presently dispersed [...] Read more.

This article aims to provide a critical review of the scientific research on technostress. As such, global references in this field are identified and highlighted in order to manage pre-existing knowledge and establish future ‘bridges’ among researchers, and to enhance the presently dispersed understanding of this subject. A scientometric meta-analysis of publications on technostress was conducted to achieve this objective. Mainstream journals from the Web of Science (WoS) were used to identify current topics, relevant journals, prolific authors, institutions, and countries, ‘schools of thought’ and the thematic areas around which current technostress debate revolves. In this article a significant contribution comes from the use of the scientific activity itself, together with scientometric meta-analysis techniques and the application of this scientific activity, its impact and relational character, to discover relevant countries, research organizations and authors which can constitute a global reference to demarcate this knowledge frontier, and who lead the ‘critical mass’ of global technostress researchers. This study also distinguishes between the relevant themes studied, with co-keywords plus bibliographic coupling citation, and examines the kind of stress the most prolific authors have considered and, therefore, to discover those topics which should be studied further to deepen this research field, in search of a post-disciplinary knowledge that allows unity of focus in technology and psychology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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22 pages, 538 KiB

Open AccessReview

COVID-19-Related Mental Health Effects in the Workplace: A Narrative Review

by Gabriele Giorgi, Luigi Isaia Lecca, Federico Alessio, Georgia Libera Finstad, Giorgia Bondanini, Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli, Giulio Arcangeli and Nicola Mucci

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(21), 7857; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217857 - 27 Oct 2020

Cited by 444 | Viewed by 52066

Abstract

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has deeply altered social and working environments in several ways. Social distancing policies, mandatory lockdowns, isolation periods, and anxiety of getting sick, along with the suspension of productive activity, loss of income, and fear of the future, [...] Read more.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has deeply altered social and working environments in several ways. Social distancing policies, mandatory lockdowns, isolation periods, and anxiety of getting sick, along with the suspension of productive activity, loss of income, and fear of the future, jointly influence the mental health of citizens and workers. Workplace aspects can play a crucial role on moderating or worsening mental health of people facing this pandemic scenario. The purpose of this literature review is to deepen the psychological aspects linked to workplace factors, following the epidemic rise of COVID-19, in order to address upcoming psychological critical issues in the workplaces. We performed a literature search using Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus, selecting papers focusing on workers’ psychological problems that can be related to the workplace during the pandemic. Thirty-five articles were included. Mental issues related to the health emergency, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sleep disorders are more likely to affect healthcare workers, especially those on the frontline, migrant workers, and workers in contact with the public. Job insecurity, long periods of isolation, and uncertainty of the future worsen the psychological condition, especially in younger people and in those with a higher educational background. Multiple organizational and work-related interventions can mitigate this scenario, such as the improvement of workplace infrastructures, the adoption of correct and shared anti-contagion measures, including regular personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, and the implementation of resilience training programs. This review sets the basis for a better understanding of the psychological conditions of workers during the pandemic, integrating individual and social perspectives, and providing insight into possible individual, social, and occupational approaches to this “psychological pandemic”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Stigma and Discrimination (SAD) at the Time of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

by Antonio Baldassarre, Gabriele Giorgi, Federico Alessio, Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli, Giulio Arcangeli and Nicola Mucci

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(17), 6341; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176341 - 31 Aug 2020

Cited by 99 | Viewed by 11019

Abstract

Infectious disease control is a crucial public health issue. Although it is important to urgently perform public health measures in order to reduce the risk of spread, it could end up stigmatizing entire groups of people rather than offering control measures based on [...] Read more.

Infectious disease control is a crucial public health issue. Although it is important to urgently perform public health measures in order to reduce the risk of spread, it could end up stigmatizing entire groups of people rather than offering control measures based on sound scientific principles. This “us” versus “them” dynamic is common in stigmatization, in general, and indicates a way in which disease stigma can be viewed as a proxy for other types of fears, especially xenophobia and general fear of outsiders. The pandemic risk associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection led us to consider, among other related issues, how stigma and discrimination remain serious barriers to care for people suspected of being infected, even more if they are assisting professions, such as health workers, employed in emergency response. The purpose of this review is to evaluate and promote the importance of psychological aspects of the stigma and social discrimination (SAD) in pandemic realities and, more specifically, nowadays, in the context of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. Just as it happened with HIV, HCV, tuberculosis, and Zika, stigma and discrimination undermine the social fabric compromising the ethics and principles of civilization to which each individual in entitled. Recognizing disease stigma history can give us insight into how, exactly, stigmatizing attitudes are formed, and how they are disbanded. Instead of simply blaming the ignorance of people espousing stigmatizing attitudes about certain diseases, we should try to understand precisely how these attitudes are formed so that we can intervene in their dissemination. We should also look at history to see what sorts of interventions against stigma may have worked in the past. Ongoing research into stigma should evaluate what has worked in the past, as above-mentioned, providing us with some clues as to what might work in the current pandemic emergency, to reduce devastating discrimination that keeps people from getting the care they need. We propose a systematic and historical review, in order to create a scientific and solid base for the following SAD analysis. The aim is to propose a coping strategy to face stigma and discrimination (SAD) related to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, borrowing coping strategy tools and solutions from other common contagious diseases. Furthermore, our study observes how knowledge, education level, and socioeconomic status (SES) can influence perception of SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19 risk in a digital world, based on previous research, best practices, and evidence-based research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side and the Light Side of Technology Related Stress and Stress related to Workplace Innovations. From Artificial Intelligence to Business Transformations)

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