Online Vigilance and Digital Well-Being: Exploring the Roles of Digital Anxiety and Availability Norms in Knowledge Work

Abstract

With the introduction of Digital in the workplace, workers face constant digital communication, which can impact on their psychology. This study examines the mediating contribution of digital anxiety and the moderating role of availability norms between the dimensions of online vigilance (ongoing cognitive monitoring of digital communication) and digital well-being. The study involved 345 knowledge workers among the sectors that have high digital communications such as corporate services, IT, banking, telecom, higher education and others. The data were gathered by using an internet-based survey and SmartPLS 4 was used to analyse it with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). These findings suggest that overall, online vigilance is significantly associated with greater digital anxiety, and with a decrease in digital well-being. Digital anxiety mediated between online vigilance and digital well-being, indicating that the psychological path connecting attentional engagement with technology had an impact on feelings of a lack of well-being. Furthermore, availability norms reinforced the link between online vigilance and digital anxiety, indicating the expectations expressed by the organizations to always be able to reach them to increase digital anxiety. The results deepen and enrich the theoretical framework around the Autonomy–Control Paradox of Technology and Technostress Theory by providing an interaction of individual and organizational factors on digital well-being. In practice, the study highlights the need for rules of availability in use, digital stress reduction and the regulation of online vigilance, to create better digital work environments. References Ayyagari, R., Grover, V., & Purvis, R. (2011). Technostress: Technological antecedents and implications. 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