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In an era where digital work is recognized as strategic, between electronic devices and teleworking, some people welcome this flexibility, but others seem to be more susceptible to stress and burnout. According to a study, FOMO (“fear of missing out”), or the fear of missing out, can be a cause of stress and burnout accentuated by digital work.
A studyconducted by the University of Nottingham and published in the journal Sage Open, reveals that digital work pushes some people to stay connected permanently so as not to miss information, increasing stress and mental fatigue.
The researchers collected data from 142 employees to examine the negative effects of digital work and technology use, such as stress, overload, anxiety and fear of missing out.
FOMO, an acronym for “fear of missing out”, refers to the anxiety of missing out on information, opportunities for relationships and interactions, and is now making its way into the world of work. Indeed, the results show that the feeling of being overloaded and the fear of missing out on information are particularly harmful to well-being, promoting stress and anxiety in digital work.
“The overabundance of information flowing through channels such as email, intranets, or collaboration tools can cause employees to worry about missing information and succumb to overload as they struggle to keep up. To help people cope with this information overload, it is crucial to optimize information management and support information literacy.” explains Elizabeth Marsh, a doctoral student in psychology and co-author of the study, in a press release.
The study also highlights the need to take into account these negative effects on employee well-being and suggests that employers invest in practices to optimize the quantity and flow of information. It recommends considering policies and training that would help users of digital work to better access, manage and consume information.
“Considering the digital workplace in work and job design is essential not only for employee productivity but also for employee well-being in modern organizations. When this consideration is lacking, it can result in increased stress and burnout, as well as poorer mental health. Our findings indicate that the information ecosystem is an important area that requires attention, both within organizations and within the research community.” concludes Alexa Spence, professor of psychology and co-author of the study.
Slide: Burn out: risk factors