When do Employees Perceive Technology as Stressful? A Meta-Analysis of work-related Technostress Antecedents

Jan. 2026

Magdalena Kotek, Ivana Vranjes 

Workplace technostress, a consequence of technology use at work, has garnered significant attention in recent scientific investigations. However, existing findings on technostress are often dispersed and contradictory, necessitating a systematic exploration of its contributing factors. In this study, we build on transactional stress theory to consolidate information on potential antecedents of technostressor perceptions at work: techno-complexity, techno-insecurity, techno-invasion, techno-overload, and techno-uncertainty. Our random-effects meta-analysis of 84 relevant studies, covering 44,576 employees, illustrates a distinct pattern of antecedents for different technostressors, shedding light on the diverse influences shaping employees' perceptions of technostress.

CITE

Kotek, M., & Vranjes, I. (2025). When do employees perceive technology as stressful? A meta-analysis of work-related technostress antecedents. Information & Management, 62(8), 104203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2025.104203