Study goals
We aim to analyze the impacts of technostress on self-employed IT workers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring the relationship between the use of communication technologies and feelings of stress, anxiety, and exhaustion.
Relevance / originality
The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of communication technologies and remote work. The study is relevant to understanding how these challenges affect self-employed IT workers and how they can be mitigated.
Methodology / approach
The study employs a qualitative approach. Structured interviews were conducted with nine self-employed IT workers. Participants were asked about their perceptions regarding the use of technologies, emotional and physical impacts, job satisfaction, and other factors related to technostress.
Main results
Many respondents reported the challenge of reconciling work and personal life due to constant exposure to technology. Respondents shared experiences of exhaustion, anxiety, fatigue, and work overload related to the intensive use of technology.
Theoretical / methodological contributions
The study contributes to the understanding of the impact of technostress on self-employed IT workers, highlighting the complexities of the relationship between technology, work, and emotional and physical well-being.
Social / management contributions
Understanding the impacts of technostress can help develop strategies to manage workload better, establish healthy boundaries between work and personal life, and promote a more balanced and productive work environment.