Technostress

Technostress is any stress-related physical, mental, or emotional condition caused by the use of technology. Technology includes computers, cell phones, tablets, and other mobile devices, along with the programs and applications that are used on these devices. For instance, people can suffer from technostress while learning a new computer program or from spending too much time on social media. Although it is a relatively new condition, experts say it continues to grow in significance. Technostress has implications not only for individual health and well-being but also for businesses that design and sell technology.

Background

The concept of stress as something that affects the quality of human life began in the mid-twentieth century. Hungarian physician and endocrinologist Hans Selye observed that many people who were sick exhibited similar symptoms, regardless of the condition that was making them ill. He used the term stress to define this collection of symptoms in part because the ancient Greeks had used the word tonos, which means stress, to describe the body’s efforts to restore itself to normal during illness.

The word technostress was first used in the 1980s and 1990s to describe the reaction of people who were overwhelmed by new technology. Initially, it applied to information systems such as computer programs and applications for word processing and calculating formulas. The condition was noted first in people who were required to use computers as part of their jobs, such as office workers and librarians. Many of these people began to exhibit lower levels of job performance and job satisfaction as new technology was adopted. They also began to experience physical symptoms, such as headaches and eyestrain from staring at computer screens and conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome from typing on keyboards for hours each day.

As the use and prevalence of technology expanded in the twenty-first century, the definition of technostress also expanded. It was broadened to refer to any form of stress-related illness or symptom that results from the use of technology. Technostress can affect anyone who is part of a society that uses computers, cell phones, and other forms of technology frequently.

Overview

Experts say that technostress results when people feel overwhelmed by the presence of technology in their lives or when they begin to feel technology is taking over their lives. This is especially the case when people feel compelled to look at and/or answer work e-mails or other communications after work hours. It does not appear to matter whether the compulsion is caused by the employer’s requirements or by the person’s own inability to ignore messages that are dropped into electronic in-boxes. A similar problem happens when people feel compelled to continually check social media, news outlets, or other sources of information that appears on electronic devices at all hours of the day.

In work scenarios, people can also experience technostress because they feel unable to use new technology that is required for their job. While many younger workers have grown up using computers, older workers likely began their careers before computers and cell phones were common. They may feel intimidated by new technology and fear that they might lose their jobs if they cannot keep up with changes in their work duties. The rapid speed at which technology develops and changes means that even those familiar with computers and other devices are frequently learning new programs, which creates a similar uncertainty and stress.

Technostress can produce a number of symptoms that affect people physically, mentally, and emotionally. The symptoms can be so subtle that the person is barely aware of them, or they can feel so overwhelming that they affect the person’s entire life. These symptoms include

headaches and soreness in the neck, shoulders, and back;

insomnia or difficulty staying asleep;

restlessness or an overall feeling of illness;

difficulty concentrating;

decreased performance at school or work;

mental fatigue;

anxiety or panic;

irritability;

and anger or frustration, especially with technology or related programs.

People who are affected by technostress might also experience decreased job satisfaction. They might feel as if work is taking over their lives because of the constant intrusion of e-mails, text messages, or phone calls after work hours.

In addition, the design of certain devices is thought to cause some of the physical and mental stress that people might experience. Most experts believe that the blue screens used in cell phones, computers, and other devices disrupts the brain’s ability to shut down and rest. The time spent on devices also cuts into time spent on other activities beneficial to health, such as exercise and socializing. Some experts are also pointing out that continued reliance on devices could be affecting memory and other brain functions. For instance, while people used to memorize dozens of phone numbers, many now rely on their cell phone’s contact list and rarely, if ever, memorize phone numbers. The use of global positioning system (GPS) technology, which is now built into most mobile devices, could similarly affect people’s ability to remember directions and use maps.

Researchers who study technostress say there are ways to minimize its effects. These strategies include drawing a clear line between work and personal time and shutting off work e-mail and other messaging services during non-work hours. People should also schedule specific times for checking e-mails and social media and then turn off their devices for a while to engage in exercise or hobbies that do not involve screens.

Some people experiencing technostress even develop behaviors similar to those addicted to drugs, alcohol, and gambling. For example, some people are so attached to having their cell phone with them at all times that a new term—nomophobia—has been introduced to describe the fear that people feel when they have forgotten their cell phone. In extreme cases, experts say, it may be necessary for people to undergo a technology “detox” and abstain from all use of technology for a time in order to recover and reduce their stress.

Bibliography

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Elgan, Mike. “Technostress Is Killing Productivity. Culture Is the Cure.” ComputerWorld,10 Feb. 2018, www.computerworld.com/article/3254725/it-management/technostress-is-killing-productivity-culture-is-the-cure.html. Accessed 20 Nov. 2018.

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Lebowitz, Shana. “Smartphones Are Becoming So Dangerous There’s a New Field of Study Called Technostress—and Experts Say It’s Killing People.” Business Insider,8 Feb. 2018, www.businessinsider.com/smartphones-dangerous-to-health-technostress-2018-2. Accessed 20 Nov. 2018.

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