The relationship between Zoom use with the camera on and Zoom fatigue: considering self-monitoring and social interaction anxiety

ABSTRACT

During COVID-19, there has been an unprecedented rise of videoconferencing use, primarily through Zoom. This increasingly popularity of Zoom has led to growing debates about its negative health impacts. In particular, ‘Zoom fatigue’ is a rapidly popularizing phenomena that describes the mental exhaustion or burnout arising from Zoom use. However, the specific mechanisms through which Zoom leads to Zoom fatigue are not well understood. To fill this gap, this study tested a mediated model linking Zoom use with the camera on (‘ZUC’) to Zoom fatigue, through the mediator of social interaction anxiety on Zoom, with a survey sample from the United Kingdom. It was also posited that self-monitoring positively moderated the effects of ZUC on social interaction anxiety on Zoom. The results demonstrated that the direct effects of ZUC on Zoom fatigue was significant and positive. The paper also showed that social interaction anxiety on Zoom increased Zoom fatigue. However, ZUC failed to indirectly increase Zoom fatigue due to the insignificant effects of ZUC on social interaction anxiety on Zoom. Self-monitoring also did not moderate the insignificant relationship between ZUC and social interaction anxiety on Zoom. These insights can guide conceptual frameworks for future research exploring the social psychological impacts of digital media on health.

KEYWORDS:

• Zoom
• Zoom fatigue
• self-monitoring
• social interaction anxiety
• United Kingdom

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr Rebecca Eynon (Professor of Education, the Internet and Society, Oxford Internet Institute) for her help throughout this study. Her useful discussions and valuable insights are greatly appreciated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Annabel Ngien

Annabel Ngien is a PhD candidate at the National University of Singapore. Her research interests include new media and wellbeing, the health effects of Internet use and socio-psychology of social media. [email: [email protected]]

Bernie Hogan

Bernie Hogan (PhD Toronto, 2009) is a Senior Research Fellow at the OII and Research Associate at the Department of Sociology. With training in sociology and computer science, Hogan focuses on how social networks and social media can be designed to empower people to build stronger relationships and stronger communities. [email: [email protected]]