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The Impact of Technostress on Role Stress and Productivity
Abstract
Based on empirical survey data, this paper uses concepts from sociotechnical theory and role theory to explore the effects of stress created by information and computer technology (ICT)—that is, "technostress"—on role stress and on individual productivity. We first explain different ways in which ICTs can create stress in users and identify factors that create technostress. We next propose three hypotheses: (1) technostress is inversely related to individual productivity, (2) role stress is inversely related to individual productivity, and (3) technostress is directly related to role stress. We then use structural equation modeling on survey data from ICT users in 223 organizations to test the hypotheses. The results show support for them. Theoretically, the paper contributes in three ways. First, the different dimensions of technostress identified here add to existing concepts on stress experienced by individuals in organizations. Second, by showing that technostress inversely affects productivity, the paper reinforces that failure to manage the effects of ICT-induced stress can offset expected increases in productivity. Third, validation of the positive relationship between technostress and role stress adds a new conceptual thread to literature analyzing the relationship between technology and organizational roles and structure. In the practical domain, the paper proposes a diagnostic tool to evaluate the extent to which technostress is present in an organization and suggests that the adverse effects of technostress can be partly countered by strategies that reduce role conflict and role overload.
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“Second, technostress, defined as the psychological strain associated with continuous technological adaptation, correlates with a diminished willingness to embrace new tools (Salanova et al., 2013;Tarafdar et al., 2007).”
From Adoption and Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Foreign Language Teaching: Multi-Institutional Analysis of Higher Education (2026) · cites this paper as Tarafdar et al., 2007
In the citing paper
“work-related factors like productivity (Tarafdar et al. 2007(Tarafdar et al. , 2011))”
From Leadership and technostress: A systematic literature review (2025) · cites this paper as Tarafdar et al. 2007
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Metadata
- Authors
- Tarafdar, M., Tu, Q., Ragu-Nathan, B. S., & Ragu-Nathan, T. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Toledo (US)
- b Management Information Systems, Jiaotong University, China
- a Information Systems, University of Toledo, Indian, Calcutta
- Venue
- Journal of Management Information Systems
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2007-07
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 301-328
- ISSN
- 0742-1222 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-928X
- OpenAlex
- W2109528448
- Cited by
- 1,904
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 398 · 2025: 267 · 2024: 216 · 2023: 213 · 2022: 194 · 2021: 146 · 2020: 97 · 2019: 70 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 44 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 5.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Management Information Systems (publishedVersion)
- Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Technostress in Professional Settings
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Technology Adoption and User Behaviour
- Keywords
- technostress, role stress, personal productivity, information and computer technologies, socio-technical systems theory, role theory, role conflict, role overload, stress management
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