According to the Pew Research Center, 68 percent of Americans own smartphones. Although advanced technology is ubiquitous in today’s world, this reality can prove troublesome. Technostress, or the negative impact computer usage has on individuals, is a relevant issue for many of those in a hyperconnected society. Although scientific research on the topic is still emerging, technostress clearly influences how users think, feel, and interact with the world around them.

Defining Technostress

Because technostress is a relatively recent phenomenon, it still isn’t fully understood. Educational Research defines technostress as “a modern disease of adaptation caused by an inability to cope with new technologies in a healthy manner.” Technostress presents in one of two ways: Individuals may either struggle to accept computer technology or overidentify with and rely on it.

There are numerous ways of understanding technostress’s impact in our lives. For example, Scientific American identified a new fear entitled “nomophobia,” or the fear people experience when they don’t have their mobile phone. Psychology Today suggests that technostress might be caused not by the technology itself, but rather the agency users feel by having a world of information at their fingertips. Whatever the manifestation, technostress affects how people live, work, and play.

The Symptoms of Technostress

When an individual experiences technostress, it can be overwhelming. Studies have likened technostress to addictive behavior, even citing similar symptoms of craving and withdrawal.

Symptoms of technostress can appear through physical, emotional, mental, or other means. Some include the following.

Physical Symptoms

• Headache
• Difficulty sleeping
• Sore muscles in neck, back, and shoulders
• Inability to relax
• Illness
• Insomnia

Mental Symptoms

• Increased work errors
• Difficulty concentrating
• Low morale/confidence
• Mental exhaustion
• Negative attitude toward computers

Emotional Symptoms

• Panic/anxiety
• Helplessness
• Feelings of isolation and frustration
• Irritability
• Anger

Other Issues

• General burnout
• Less time for sustained thinking
• Decreased time and opportunity for creative problem solving
• Work/life imbalance
• Reduced job satisfaction

As an ailment, technostress will undoubtedly remain an important topic in numerous fields, including psychology. At King University, the online bachelor’s in psychology degree trains students to look deeply into human behavior and prepares them for a wide range of careers or graduate study.

How Technostress Happens

Technostress is the result of humans’ inability to adapt to increasingly advanced technology. Take, for example, the sample study in Educational Research. The article describes how researchers studied technostress among university librarians. They found increased levels of the problem in situations where the following factors were present:

• An individual’s inexperience with computers or technology
• A lack of training or sufficient training with new technologies
• An overworked staff or understaffed workplace
• Information overload
• A quickened pace of change in technology
• Intimidation regarding jargon and computer language
• The presence of multiple technology interfaces
• Performance anxiety with regards to technology use

Another contributing factor is an ever-blurring line of connectivity between work and home. As more employees obtain smartphones or other mobile devices, it becomes increasingly easy for them to take their work out of the office and into their lives. (Employers may even go so far as to implicitly or explicitly demand they do so.) The Guardian expands on this, noting research that demonstrated how substantial smartphone usage contributed to increased levels of burnout, exhaustion, and cynicism.

Smartphones are also thought to be uniquely discordant with the human brain. Various studies have documented a number of conflicts between the two:

• Mental engagement with screen-centered work late at night leads to increased fatigue and engagement the following day.
• Blue screens on computers and cellphones disrupt natural sleep patterns.
• Mobile phone users have been found to have decreased memory capabilities.
• Reliance on digital GPS systems may reduce activity in the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with the human sense of direction.

Although these results are notable, technostress research is still in an early phase. Fully understanding this phenomenon will require lengthy future efforts. However, the good news is that technostress is preventable.

The Prevention of Technostress

Although it may sound daunting at first, preventing and minimizing the effects of technostress is easier than one might think. The essential goal of prevention is to slow down, taking conscious breaks from the whirlwind of constant connectivity.

Strategies might include:

• Learning to become self-aware with regards to technology use
• Reducing multitasking
• Exercising
• Picking up or starting a hobby that doesn’t involve screen technology
• Avoiding digital devices in your home
• Avoiding digital interaction during certain times of the day (for example, after dinner or right before bed)
• Turning digital devices completely off when not in use
• Drawing a clear line with your employer about your limitations with technology usage

In some cases, the problem may prove more serious. Approximately 6 percent of the world’s population is addicted to the internet, according to Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. A full-on technology addiction means a more thorough approach is needed. For individuals who need more structured help, treatment may look like:

• Undergoing a full 72-hour “detox” from technology
• A structured behavioral modification plan
• Slow reintroduction of technology that emphasizes healthy use
• Relapse prevention strategies

Understanding the nature of technostress isn’t just important for physical and mental health. It’s also crucial for those with careers in information technology. When IT professionals understand the broader context and implications of their work, they can adapt to relevant needs and concerns. Ultimately, this leads to outcomes that improve, instead of hinder, the user experience.

Additional Sources: GPSolo, Strategic Psychology, Addiction.com

Your Information Technology Future at King University

Information technology is a high-opportunity career field that requires an exceptional education. At King University, the online information technology degree features a curriculum specifically designed for students to advance their industry knowledge. Students can choose from one of three academic tracks, allowing them to tailor their degree to their goals:

• Cybersecurity
• Network Management
• Information Systems

Designed for professionals seeking to finish their degree, the program is offered online for full convenience. Undergraduate coursework at King may be completed in as little as 16 months.