Authors:

• Matej Černe, University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business
• Aldijana Bunjak, University of Stavanger, Business School
• Sut-I Wong, BI Norwegian Business School
• Darija Aleksić, University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business
• Katerina Božič, University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business

Keywords:

technostress | information communication technology (ICT) | job stress | burnout | job autonomy

Abstract:

This paper focuses on how technostress relates to job stress, and subsequently results in burnout in digitised workplaces. We also propose that job autonomy can buffer the negative effect of technostress. We test our model in a four-wave longitudinal study of working professionals from a nationally representative quota sample (n = 198 employees contributing 792 observations). The results of the study supported our hypothesised model, highlighting that autonomy represents a crucial job design element that mitigates the effects of technostress on burnout over time. Our contributions complement existing research on technostress, specifically narrowing in on short- versus long-term negative outcomes of this phenomenon, and advancing research on stress and burnout in traditional work settings that adopted the high technology use. From a practical perspective, we provide guidelines for organisations on how to maintain the most appropriate ways of designing contemporary jobs that are inherently embedded in technology.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressed in the article are:

• SGD 3 – Good health and well-being
• SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, Technology and Infrastructure

The article is published in:
International journal of electronic business (Inderscience)

The content is available for a fee at:

(Techno)stress and subsequent burnout: how job autonomy enables working professionals to regulate demands with control