Exploring technostress through lived experiences: A qualitative study across professional and educational roles

Abstract

The evolution of digital technology has transformed work and learning paradigms throughout various sectors, including education and professional sectors. The utilisation of technology in professional environments can enhance job efficiency; nevertheless, it may also induce stress in users, commonly known as technostress. Technostress refers to the stress suffered by persons who struggle to manage or adapt to the demands of information and communication technology (ICT), resulting in technological demands surpassing the capabilities they have. This study seeks to examine the issue of technostress within the educational and professional sectors in Malaysia, emphasising individual characteristics, contributing variables, and employed coping strategies. This study employs a qualitative methodology that gathers data via semi-structured interviews and analyses it thematically. Informants selected were a lecturer, a counselling officer, and an administrative officer, all of whom utilise technology in their regular responsibilities. This study's findings indicate that technostress is affected by various individual variables, including limited digital literacy, personal attributes, generational disparities, and insufficient training. Furthermore, the primary variables contributing to technostress include techno overload, techno invasion, techno complexity, techno insecurity, and techno uncertainty, all of which impact individual well-being and performance. The study's findings indicate that an effective coping mechanism for technostress involves a combination of individual efforts, organisational support, and social assistance. Therefore, this study discusses the emergence of technostress within the educational and professional settings in Malaysia, highlighting the necessity for a strong and comprehensive technology management strategy.