The DOI matches its Crossref record; 71 of the 71 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Digital Stress over the Life Span: The Effects of Communication Load and Internet Multitasking on Perceived Stress and Psychological Health Impairments in a German Probability Sample
Abstract
The present study investigated the psychological health effects and motivational origins of digital stress based on a representative survey of 1,557 German Internet users between 14 and 85 years of age. Communication load resulting from private e-mails and social media messages as well as Internet multitasking were positively related to perceived stress and had significant indirect effects on burnout, depression, and anxiety. Perceived social pressure and the fear of missing out on information and social interaction were key drivers of communication load and Internet multitasking. Age significantly moderated the health effects of digital stress as well as the motivational drivers of communication load and Internet multitasking. The results, thus, underline the need to address digital stress from a life span perspective.
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In the citing paper
“Past research has also demonstrated the smartphone ' s potential to elicit stress (e.g., Reinecke et al., 2017; Vahedi & Saiphoo, 2018).”
From Is life brighter when your phone is not? The efficacy of a grayscale smartphone intervention addressing digital well-being (2024) · cites this paper as Reinecke et al., 2017
In the citing paper
“it has been previously shown that smartphone use (Reinecke et al., 2017; Vahedi & Saiphoo, 2018) and the salience dimension of online vigilance (Freytag et al., 2021; Gilbert et al., 2023) predict stress.”
From Is life brighter when your phone is not? The efficacy of a grayscale smartphone intervention addressing digital well-being (2024) · cites this paper as Reinecke et al., 2017
In the citing paper
“For example, new communication norms and demands arising from hyperconnectivity (e.g., the need to check or respond to social media posts constantly) can lead to communication overload and higher levels of stress.28–30”
From Social Media Use and Its Link to Physical Health Indicators (2022) · cites this paper as [28]
In the citing paper
“Second, several scholars contend that hyperconnectivity—the permanent availability of and connectivity to peers, media content, and online services through social media—can increase stress.17,27,28”
From Social Media Use and Its Link to Physical Health Indicators (2022) · cites this paper as [28]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Reinecke, L., Aufenanger, S., Beutel, M. E., Dreier, M., Quiring, O., Stark, B., Wölfling, K., & Müller, K. W.
- Affiliations
- Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Reinecke, Leonard
- ORCID
- Venue
- Media Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2016-03
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 90-115
- ISSN
- 1521-3269 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-785X
- OpenAlex
- W2302492465
- Cited by
- 387
- References
- 71
- Citations by year
- 2026: 52 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 51.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Media Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Forschungsschwerpunkt Medienkonvergenz [Research Center for Media Convergence] at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (not available)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Technostress in Professional Settings
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Personal Information Management and User Behavior
- Keywords
- digital stress, communication load, perceived stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, social pressure, fear of missing out, social media, email, age differences, lifespan development, mental health
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