Fear of missing out (FOMO) can severely affect employee’s mental health and, along with information overload, contribute to burnout, according to a study published in the scientific journal SAGE Open.
A team from the University of Nottingham’s Schools of Psychology and Medicine analysed a survey of 142 employees regarding their views on their employment. The results showed that employees who are worried about missing out on information and are overloaded with work are much more likely to suffer stress and burnout. In contrast, employees who are more mindful in the workplace are better protected against stress and anxiety.
“The digital workplace is now recognised as a key strategic asset in organisations that enables worker productivity and flexibility in context of hybrid working. However, the potential downsides in terms of worker well-being also need to be considered, especially given the proliferation of digital communication channels and tools since Covid,” said Elizabeth Marsh, PhD student from the School of Psychology.
The authors defined FoMO as anxiety caused by missing out on information at work, as well as opportunities for relationships and interactions. FoMO is commonly used in social media, and now this new research shows that it is also felt in the workplace.
For this study, participants were asked about their experiences of the dark side effects of the digital workplace. These were identified as stress, overload, anxiety, and fear of missing out.
The results showed any factors relating to information – both feeling overloaded by it and fearing missing out on it – proved especially detrimental to well-being and increased the overall levels of stress related to work.
“The glut of information flowing through channels such as email, intranets, or collaboration tools can lead workers to worry about missing out on it as well as succumbing to overload as they strive to keep up. To help people cope with information overwhelm, serious and sustained attention should be given to both optimising information management and supporting information literacy,” said Marsh.
The authors provide some practical suggestions for employers, including ways to optimise the amount and flow of information to employees. HR departments should also use these findings to consider policy and training options to support employees in managing information to protect their well-being.
“Consideration of the digital workplace in work and job design is essential to not only employee productivity but also well-being in modern organisations. Where this is lacking, elevated stress and burnout, as well as poorer mental health, may result. Our findings indicate the information ecosystem as an important area for attention both inside organisations and among the research community,” concluded Dr. Alexa Spence, Professor of Psychology.
Marsh, E., Perez Vallejos, E., & Spence, A. (2024). Overloaded by Information or Worried About Missing Out on It: A Quantitative Study of Stress, Burnout, and Mental Health Implications in the Digital Workplace. Sage Open, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241268830