COVID-19 crisis and digital stressors at work: A longitudinal study on the Finnish working population

• Published in: Computers in human behavior 2021-09, Vol.122, p.106853-106853, Article 106853
• Main Authors: Oksanen, Atte, Oksa, Reetta, Savela, Nina, Mantere, Eerik, Savolainen, Iina, Kaakinen, Markus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bullying; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Digital media; Disasters; Full Length; Longitudinal studies; New technology; Regression models; Social media; Social networks; Technology; Technostress; Viral diseases; Work exhaustion
• ISSN: 0747-5632; 1873-7692; 0747-5632
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106853

The global crisis caused by the outbreak of a novel coronavirus and the associated disease (COVID-19) has changed working conditions due to social-distancing policies. Many workers started to use new technologies at work, including social media applications. In this longitudinal study, we investigated the potential stress effects of social media communication (SMC) at work. Based on our integrative theoretical model, we expected that SMC at work would burden some workers, but those who were accustomed to SMC at work would be better off when the crisis started. We collected a nationally representative sample of Finnish workers before (N = 1308) and during (N = 1081) the COVID-19 crisis. Outcome measures included technostress and work exhaustion. Multilevel linear mixed-effects regression models investigated formal and informal SMC at work. Covariates included cyberbullying at work, social media usage, personality, occupational status, and sociodemographic factors. Results showed that formal SMC increased and predicted higher technostress. However, technostress and work exhaustion decreased among workers already accustomed to using SMC at work before the crisis. The results indicate a disparity in workers’ resilience during remote work and highlight a need for organizational level support. •This longitudinal study analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on stress effects of social media communication at work.•The study introduces the social media communication at work during a crisis model.•Coping during a crisis is aided by work–life border management, existing work resources and psychological well-being.•Social media communication at work increased during the crisis and predicted higher technostress.•Workers accustomed to using SMC at work before the crisis coped better than others did.