Technostress: measuring a new threat to well-being in later life

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Technostress is stress induced by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use. Research on the topic has focused primarily on the workforce and tended to overlook senior citizens. This study presents the development of a new scale, which was designed to measure technostress specifically among older adults.

Method: The scale explores five constructs: overload, invasion, complexity, privacy and inclusion. The initial 20-item measure was tested in a pilot study and then included in an online survey of 537 Internet users aged 60 years and over.

Results: Based on the statistical analysis, the scale was reduced to 14 items. The constructs had good internal homogeneity, significant inter-construct correlations and high loadings on a single latent factor. The scores were well distributed along the range. Concurrent validity was assessed using the Satisfaction with Life Scale. A significant negative association was found between the two scales – a correlation that remained significant even after controlling for background variables.

Conclusion: The new scale is useful for measuring technostress in older people, and technostress ought to be considered a particular threat to well-being in later life. Future research should explore its antecedents and consequences and identify interventions useful in alleviating its harmful effect on older ICT users.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital divides
• Internet use
• well-being
• old age

View correction statement:

Correction

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to express appreciation to Drs Ramakrishna Ayyagari, Christian Maier, Larry Rosen, Arie Rotem and Marisa Salanova for their help in developing the technostress scale.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ageing + Communication + Technologies (ACT), a research project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and housed at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.