Work

Digital Balance, Digital Exhaustion, and the Complexities of Work-Related Connectivity Regulation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Due to digital connectivity, contemporary employees’ work and related experiences have changed in many ways. While connectivity can improve efficiency and well-being by enhancing workers’ autonomy and flexibility, it can simultaneously increase stress, escalate connectivity expectations, and hamper work-life boundary management. This study focuses on connectivity and its related well-being experiences, adopting and developing the conceptualization of connectivity regulation. Qualitative data were collected through an interview-diary-interview method and iteratively analyzed. The findings suggest that employees proactively and reactively regulate their connectivity depending on their boundary management, task prioritization, and role demands within the organization. Notably, employees who adopt pre-planned, proactive connectivity regulation strategies experience both digital exhaustion or digital balance similarly to those who adopt an adaptable and flexible reactive approach to connectivity regulation. The study furthers the understanding of the complexity of employees’ connectivity-related experiences and contributes to theory and practice of employee well-being and digital connectivity in organizations.

Source: The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science

DOI: 10.1177/00218863251347655

Authors: Anniina Huusko, Anu Sivunen

Institution: University of Jyväskylä

Language: English

Topic: Technostress in Professional Settings

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650