Examining technostress and its impact on worker well-being in the digital gig economy

Bibliographic Data

ID12420971
AuthorsAzka Umair (0000-0002-4526-2704, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, corresponding author), Katie Conboy (0000-0001-8260-4075, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway), Kieran Conboy, Eoin Whelan (0000-0003-1326-1384, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway)
Year2023
Volume33
Issue7
Pages206-242
Publication date2023-07-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternet Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1066-2243 • E-ISSN: 2054-5657
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1108/intr-03-2022-0214
OpenAlexW4385093826
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited96

Purpose Online labour markets (OLMs) have recently become a widespread phenomenon of digital work. While the implications of OLMs on worker well-being are hotly debated, little empirical research examines the impact of such work on individuals. The highly competitive and fast-paced nature of OLMs compels workers to multitask and to perform intense technology-enabled work, which can potentially enhance technostress. This paper examines the antecedents and well-being consequences of technostress arising from work in OLMs. Design/methodology/approach The authors draw from person–environment fit theory and job characteristics theory and test a research model of the antecedents and consequences of worker technostress in OLMs. Data were gathered from 366 workers in a popular OLM through a large-scale online survey. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the research model. Findings The findings extend existing research by validating the relationships between specific OLM characteristics and strain. Contrary to previous literature, the results indicate a link between technology complexity and work overload in OLMs. Furthermore, in OLMs, feedback is positively associated with work overload and job insecurity, while strain directly influences workers' negative affective well-being and discontinuous intention. Originality/value This study contributes to technostress literature by developing and testing a research model relevant to a new form of work conducted through OLMs. The authors expand the current research on technostress by integrating job characteristics as new antecedents to technostress and demonstrating its impact on different types of subjective well-being and discontinuous intention. In addition, while examining the impact of technostressors on outcomes, the authors consider their impact at the individual level (disaggregated approach) to capture the subtlety involved in understanding technostressors' unique relationships with outcomes

Information overload · Originality · Structural equation modeling · Technostress · Work (physics · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · Cyberloafing and Workplace Behavior · Digital Economy and Work Transformation · Engineering · Psychology · Social Psychology · Technostress in Professional Settings