Developing Early Warning Indicators for Digital Burnout at Workplace
Keywords:
Digital burnout, early indicators, workplace mental health, qualitative research, employee well-being, digital fatigue, thematic analysisAbstract
This study aimed to identify and categorize early warning indicators of digital burnout in workplace settings by exploring the lived experiences of employees in digitally intensive roles. The research employed a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with 25 participants from diverse occupational sectors in Germany who engaged in regular digital or hybrid work. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure variability in gender, industry, and job roles. Interviews lasted between 45 and 75 minutes and focused on participants’ cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and organizational experiences of digital work-related stress. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through thematic analysis using NVivo software, following an iterative coding process to identify open codes, subcategories, and core themes. The analysis yielded four main themes: Cognitive and Emotional Depletion, Physical and Behavioral Indicators, Disrupted Work-Life Boundaries, and Organizational and Cultural Pressures. These themes were composed of 24 subcategories and 137 unique open codes. Early indicators included mental fog, decision fatigue, sleep disturbances, screen aversion, emotional withdrawal, persistent connectivity, lack of recovery time, and managerial overreach. These indicators were often normalized within workplace cultures, making them difficult to detect without targeted inquiry. Participant narratives revealed that these symptoms typically emerged well before more severe burnout, offering potential for timely intervention. The findings aligned with previous research on mental fatigue, digital stress, and occupational disengagement, reinforcing the multidimensional nature of digital burnout. Identifying early-stage symptoms of digital burnout is critical for developing preventive interventions and promoting sustainable digital work practices. The findings provide a foundation for designing employee-centered wellness policies and early detection tools that can mitigate burnout before it escalates.
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