Impact of technostress on work-life balance

Abstract

One of the many factors that contribute to the success of an organisation is the use of professional information technology (ICT). The pandemic situation of recent years has highlighted the benefits of using state-of-the-art ICT. However, exploring the negative consequences is a less popular topic. The aim of this research is to identify the most significant risks factors of technostress that threaten the balanced performance of employees at work and the possibility of work-life balance. In 2021, statistical correlations between risk factors for technostress were identified using SPSS 26, based on the opinions of 237 Hungarian higher education staff. Using SPSS AMOS 27, a proprietary model was built to test the impact of the most serious risks on personal and work life. The results show that three factors have the greatest impact on work-life balance, which also affect organisational performance. Loss of leisure time due to techno-overload and techno-invasion, and a feeling of techno-uncertainty due to lack of ICT competence cause a sense of threat. These compromise work-life balance and, at the same time, work performance. The mutually reinforcing negative effects influence the sense of well-being (happiness) at work, the feeling of job security and force employees to learn continuously.