The impact of self-esteem, conscientiousness and pseudo-personality on technostress
ISSN: 1066-2243
Article publication date: 31 August 2020
Issue publication date: 4 February 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The authors investigated how personality traits are associated with workplace technostress (perception of stressors related to the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected 95 self-rated and 336 observer-rated questionnaires using the personality audit and a shortened version of the technostress scale. To analyze relationships between personality dimensions and technostress, the authors applied partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
This study shows that in line with previous studies, self-esteem is negatively related to levels of technostress. Contrary to our expectations, conscientiousness is positively related to technostress. Finally, the gap between a person's self-ratings and observer ratings in all personality dimensions is positively associated with technostress.
Practical implications
The authors showed that the experience of technostress varies significantly amongst individuals. By taking personality differences into account when allocating responsibilities and creating guidelines for ICT use at work, technostress could be addressed. Instead of setting organization-wide norms for availability and use, the authors suggest it would be more effective to acknowledge individual needs and preferences.
Originality/value
This study contributes to current technostress research by further examining antecedents and by focusing on the role of personality. In addition, the authors examined how differences in “self” and “observer” ratings of personality characteristics may point to variations in the way individuals experience technostress. The authors outlined concrete best practice guidelines for ICTs in organizations that take interindividual differences into account.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Authors would like to acknowledge the INSEAD Working Paper No. 2016/31/EFE entitled “You and Your Technostress: Relating Personality Dimensions to ICT-Related Stress” written by Korzynski, P., Florent-Treacy, E. and Kets de Vries, M.F, on which this manuscript is developed upon.The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of Polish National Science Centre, grant no UMO-2017/25/B/HS4/02393.
Citation
Korzynski, P., Rook, C., Florent Treacy, E. and Kets de Vries, M. (2021), "The impact of self-esteem, conscientiousness and pseudo-personality on technostress", Internet Research, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 59-79. https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-03-2020-0141
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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