How and When May Technostress Impact Workers’ Psycho-Physical Health and Work-Family Interface? A Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

Valentina Sommovigo (), Chiara Bernuzzi, Georgia Libera Finstad, Ilaria Setti, Paola Gabanelli, Gabriele Giorgi and Elena Fiabane
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Valentina Sommovigo: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Chiara Bernuzzi: Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Unit of Applied Psychology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Georgia Libera Finstad: Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy
Ilaria Setti: Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Unit of Applied Psychology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Paola Gabanelli: Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Psychology Unit of Pavia Institute, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Gabriele Giorgi: Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy
Elena Fiabane: Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Genova Nervi Institute, 16167 Genova, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: Although a growing body of research has analyzed the determinants and effects of technostress, it is still unclear how and when technostress would impact workers’ psycho-physical health and work-family interface during the pandemic. To fill this gap, this study tests the mediating mechanisms and the boundary conditions associated with the impact of technostress on workers’ psycho-physical well-being and work-family conflict. A total of 266 Italian workers completed online questionnaires measuring (traditional vs. remote) working modalities, technostress, fear of COVID-19, working excessively, psycho-physical distress, work-family conflict, loss of a loved one due to COVID-19, and resilience. Structural equation models were performed. Results indicated that technostress was positively related to psycho-physical distress and work-family conflict, as mediated by fear of COVID-19 and working excessively, respectively. The loss of a loved one exacerbated the effects of fear of COVID-19 on psycho-physical health, while resilience buffered the effects of working excessively on work-family conflict. Since numerous organizations intend to maintain remote working also after the COVID-19 emergency, it is crucial to study this phenomenon during its peaks of adoption, to prevent its potential negative outcomes. The implications of these findings for theory and practice are discussed.

Keywords: remote working; technostress; COVID-19 pandemic; psycho-physical distress; work-family conflict; fear of COVID-19; workaholism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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