The Emerging Technology-related Stressors Scale: assessing the impact of ICTs in the hybrid context

Abstract: The spread of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is fundamentally altering the nature of work, products, and processes, introducing potential psychosocial, organizational, and ergonomic risks and leading to what is referred to as “technostress”. For example, ICTs compel users to work faster and longer, exacerbating feeling overwhelmed and reducing their ability to manage techno-related demands successfully. The digitization of HR practices can lead to stringent control of productivity and performance, putting the worker under pressure, decreasing autonomy, and raising privacy issues. Professionally, employees may perceive their skills as inadequate in the face of technological advancements, as ICTs perpetuate a growing skills discrepancy. This can lead to feeling unable to relocate and a diminished sense of employability. Additionally, ICTs have abstracted organizational relationships, with workers increasingly communicating through email, phone calls, and virtual conferences. This shift reduces opportunities for face-to-face interactions, negatively affecting the socialization processes that build a sense of belonging and organizational identification. To accurately capture the nuanced experiences of both in-office and remote workers, the development of new, updated measurement tools for assessing the impact of ICTs is essential. Accurate measurement can enable organizations to identify specific techno-stressors and tailor interventions accordingly.This study aimed to develop and preliminarily validate the Emerging Technology-related Stressors Scale. Items were generated using both inductive and deductive approaches, resulting in a pool of 21 items administered to 3,374 Italian employees through an anonymous online survey. The factor structure of the scale was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), with the latter conducted on a separate sample of 852 employees from a different firm. Reliability estimates and nomological validity were also assessed. The EFA identified a four-factor structure, including technology-related demands, privacy/monitoring, employability, and technology-mediated social interactions. This structure was confirmed by the CFA, which outperformed alternative models and demonstrated good reliability. Correlations showed that the total score of the scale and each dimension were positively associated with psycho-physical distress and negatively related to job satisfaction.Accurately measuring emerging technology-related stressors is crucial for identifying their impact and developing strategies to mitigate detrimental health outcomes (e.g., psycho-physical distress) and work-related issues (e.g., job dissatisfaction). This study introduces a reliable instrument for assessing employees’ perceptions of technology-related stressors, usable by both researchers and practitioners. The results can guide the effective implementation of ICTs by identifying potential sources of techno-stress and addressing them proactively. Additionally, properly evaluating techno-stressors can provide insights into how to promote healthy technology use, such as setting boundaries for after-hours online communication and offering resources for managing digital workloads. This can also encourage practices that enhance technology-mediated social interactions, including implementing collaborative platforms, promoting peer support networks, and facilitating social activities. The scale also provides valuable information for developing targeted training programs to help employees cope with techno-stressors, improving their technological skills and employability. By identifying and quantifying techno-stressors, organizations can raise awareness among employees about the potential stressors related to ICTs and educate them on effective coping strategies, thus maintaining a healthy and satisfied workforce.

Keywords: technostress, validation, psychometric tool, psychosocial risks, future of work

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005748

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