Technostress and innovation adaptation: how job crafting enables successful aging in older employees

Yanzi Wang, Zhijing Peng, Zhongming Ouyang, Mengguo Zhao and Zeyu Li

European Journal of Innovation Management, 2026, vol. 29, issue 1, 94-118

Abstract: PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the impact of technostress on successful aging at work (SAW) among older employees aged 45 years and above within the context of rapid digital innovation.Design/methodology/approachOur conducted a two-wave survey of 211 Chinese employees, using the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping as a framework for analysis.FindingsJob crafting mediated the relationship between technostress and SAW. Involution perception moderates this process; a high involution perception amplifies the negative impact of technostress on job crafting and SAW.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was limited to Chinese employees. Further research is needed in other regions, which highlights the need for innovation-friendly environments to support older employees.Practical implicationsOrganizations should foster technical empowerment, anti-involution policies, and age-inclusive innovation practices to harness the experiential knowledge of older employees.Originality/valueThis study unveils how older employees' adaptive behaviors (e.g. job redesign) mitigate digital transformation risks and advances the innovation management literature.

Keywords: Technostress; Innovation adaptation; Transactional model of stress and coping; Knowledge retention; Digital transformation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:ejimpp:ejim-07-2025-0970

DOI: 10.1108/EJIM-07-2025-0970

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