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AbstractDrawing on the dual system theory, a configuration model for cyberchondria was proposed to explore the complex interplay between the individual characteristics, socioemotional system, and cognitive control system in causing cyberchondria. A questionnaire was distributed to users who have searched for health information on social media platforms. A total of 320 valid responses were collected. The fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method was employed to analyse the data. Four equifinal configurations leading to cyberchondria were identified, with fear of missing out, perceived information overload, and perceived communication overload as core conditions. Additionally, one configuration leading to the absence of cyberchondria was identified. We further explored the configurations for the four sub-dimensions of cyberchondria. The results revealed four configurations for excessiveness, two for distress, one for compulsion, and three for reassurance. Four theoretical propositions leading to cyberchondria and its sub-dimensions are proposed. This provides a dual system perspective into how fear of missing out can evolve into cyberchondria and explains the complexities of cyberchondria between different individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Internet for constant connectivity with social networking sites has negative consequences in the form of higher mental pressure, low physical and offline activities, and mental tiredness and fatigue. Using these given phenomena, this research explores how system complexity, information overload, and communication overload are decisive factors of tiredness of social networking sites among Chinese individuals. The study also adds the role of workfamily balance as a predictor in determining the tiredness levels of the use of social networking sites. A survey questionnaire was conducted over a sample of 507 respondents, drawn through non-probability purposive sampling techniques from employees of major Chinese organizations. The Structural Equation Modelling measurements revealed that, except for system complexity, the impact of information overload, communication overload, and work-family balance is significant in causing tiredness of social networking sites. However, while both overload factors were responsible for greater tiredness, a higher balance between work and family tends to reduce it. The study suggests that policymakers should develop strategies through to reduce such tiredness. It was also felt that a more work-family balance should be a panacea for such tiredness among the Chinese people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine some of the benefits and drawbacks of communication visibility. Specifically, building on communication visibility theory, the authors study how and why message transparency and network translucence may increase knowledge reuse and perceived overload through behavioral responses of vicarious learning and technology-assisted supplemental work. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on survey data obtained from 1,127 employees of a global company operating in the industrial machinery sector, the authors used structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized model. Findings: The results demonstrate that the two aspects of communication visibility yield somewhat differential benefits and drawbacks in terms of knowledge reuse and communication overload, through vicarious learning and supplemental work practices. Research limitations/implications: The results demonstrate the relationship between different aspects of communication visibility and knowledge reuse, specifically through vicarious learning. Furthermore, the findings highlight a potential drawback of visibility – communication overload – specifically through technology-assisted supplemental work. Overall, network translucence seems more beneficial compared to message transparency in terms of knowledge reuse and communication overload. Originality/value: The study connects with recent work on communication visibility by distinguishing differential direct and indirect effects of message transparency and network translucence. It also extends this work by testing relationships between communication visibility and a potential drawback of visibility – communication overload – specifically through technology-assisted supplemental work.

Hospital nurses encounter a demanding workplace. Advancements in technology and continued staffing shortages increase and complicate the communication and organizational expectations and restrictions placed upon hospital nurses, although the organizational resources and support nurses are offered can remain unchanged, or worse, diminish. This study explores nurses' experiences of workplace communication overload (CO), and their interpretations of how CO occurs alongside obstacles to risk and safety communication —a vital form of communication in hospital work. Using a combination of semi-structured, narrative interviews (N = 12) and focus groups (N = 8, 26 participants), and driven by a theoretical conceptualization of CO, this study reveals that the most fundamental obstacle to nurses' risk and safety communication at work is the practice of mandating. When nurses are mandated, they are forced to work overtime, exceeding the number of hours agreed upon in their contracts, due to (continued) staffing shortages. Nurses explain that mandating, as a routine organizational practice, creates general states of feeling overwhelmed in everyday work life, which is a central theoretical dimension of CO. This state of feeling overwhelmed strips nurses of their patience and cognitive capacity to adequately process and respond to incoming risk and safety messages, and/or grasp their level of importance. Study implications are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In social commerce, users are increasingly resorting to social media platforms to search for information, purchase goods, and share shopping experiences. However, social media use may also affect users' emotions negatively, causing them to switch platforms. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how negative factors (i.e., information and communication overload) affect consumers’ platform-switching behavior in social commerce. Drawing on the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) model, this study established a research framework and conducted an online survey in China. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect the data, generating 477 valid responses. Data analysis, based on structural equation modeling, indicates that information and communication overload, and online fatigue positively affect platform-switching intention. The effect of the intention to switch on behavior is moderated by switching costs. Mediation analysis shows that information and communication overload can indirectly influence switching behavior through online fatigue and switching intention. This study incorporates the novel aspects of switching costs in examining the driving forces behind platform-switching in social commerce, thereby theoretically adding value to the existing body of knowledge. Apart from this, our findings also bear significant practical implications and are valuable for social commerce platforms and sellers to improve their user experience and retain existing customers.

In March 2020, teachers in the K–12 school system were forced to transition from in-person instruction to a variety of virtual teaching models due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented change required extensive communication between teachers, students, parents, and administrators. This study explored communication during the March–May 2020 transition period, utilizing Uncertainty Management Theory as an overarching framework to investigate how teacher comfort with online learning, communication overload, administrative clarity, and student–teacher interaction influenced the effectiveness and happiness of teachers. Across these four variables, communication overload was shown to be a strong negative predictor of teacher well-being; student–teacher interaction predicted positive teaching outcomes.

In the study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between the communication overload burden perceived by teachers and job satisfaction. The sample of the research consists of 294 teachers working at different levels in the 2020-2021 academic year. Correlational research design, which is a quantitative method, was used in the research. During the data collection process, the Personal Information Form created by the researchers, the Job Satisfaction Scale and the Communication Overload Scale were used. From descriptive statistics for demographic variables; one-way analysis of variance to determine the relationship between variables and job satisfaction; T-test was used to test the differentiation of the relationship between job satisfaction and perceived communication overload according to various variables, and regression analysis was used for the predictive level of job satisfaction of communication overload. A significant, weakly negative relationship was found between teachers’ perceived overload of communication and their job satisfaction. While it is seen that the excessive communication load differs significantly according to gender and being a classroom guidance teacher; It has been observed that there is no difference according to seniority, marital status, and school level. The level of job satisfaction differs according to seniority; It was concluded that there was no difference according to gender, marital status, school level and being a classroom guidance teacher. The findings obtained as a result of the study were discussed within the framework of the literature, and suggestions for these results were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pervasive social networking sites (SNSs) access has forced people to pay continuous attention to the overwhelming volume of information which ultimately increases their usage. The extensive use of SNSs has contributed to the overuse of technology and that can lead to overload which may produce negative behavioural consequences. This study used cognitive load theory as foundation of the model to examine the effect of overloads and discontinuous intentions incorporating SNS addiction, social media self-efficacy and SNS fatigue. To test the proposed model and hypothesis, a total of 371 Chinese university students participated in the study. Findings reveal that information and communication overload exert a direct impact on SNS addiction, and the relationship between SNS addiction and discontinuous intentions amongst users is negatively significant. The moderated mediation analysis result indicates that social media self-efficacy moderates the mediating effect of SNS addiction between overloads (information and communication) and discontinuous intentions. Moreover, the relationship between SNS addiction and discontinuous intentions is partially mediated by SNS fatigue. Implications emphasise that SNS providers should effectively prevent the negative behavioural response of SNS users by providing training on the effective use of SNSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ever-changing global context, the need to understand why users discontinue using social media platforms is rapidly rising. Comprehending the backdrop of such decisions and factors governing the effects, as mentioned earlier, may help users to make such decisions and help service providers to mitigate them. There is a need to enrich the theoretical account of the phenomenon of social media discontinuation. Other authors focused on different social media platforms, but we have mainly used Facebook with sound justification to select its users as participants. We applied a quantitative study to survey 384 Facebook users, selecting the convenience sampling method. We integrated the ‘Stimulus-Organism-Response’ (S-O-R) framework and applied the Smart-PLS technique and software. The results support this framework and indicate that information overload, communication overload, social media self-efficacy, privacy concern, social media helpfulness, and annoyance (as stimuli). Results demonstrate that increase the fatigue feelings integrated with perceived relevance (i.e., organism) of social media users, which in turn, increases their social media discontinuance intentions and ad avoidance behavior (i.e., response). This research sheds light on the antecedents of social networking services (SNS) fatigue that influences overall Facebook fatigue and suggests practical implications for the ever-expanding SNS market. Our findings offer valuable insights to marketers, entrepreneurs, and organizations in every sector regarding the social media usage and break-up issues of individual users.

The purpose of the current research was to investigate Facebook discontinuance intentions in the Library and Information Science environment. The research model, building on the Theory of Planned Behavior, incorporated overload, fatigue, and self-efficacy, to understand the drivers behind users' intention to stop using Facebook (either permanently or intermittently) or replace it with another social medium. Overall, the results suggest that participants are unlikely to abandon Facebook either on a permanent or a temporary basis, at least in the near future. Furthermore, users' discontinuance intentions are primarily associated with evaluations about the consequences of their choice to abandon the medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Features and relevant services of online social media have been attracting users during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies have shown that college students tend to use social media more frequently than other groups. However, in being affected by social media overload, the social media use behaviors of many college students have been out of their control in terms of their capabilities or cognition. Based on the stressor-strain-outcome (SSO) model and the theory of compensatory internet use (TCIU), we developed a research model to study the causes of social media overload and its impact on college students' academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 441 valid responses from college students through questionnaires in China are collected via purposive sampling and used in the data analysis. This study conducts PLS-SEM to analyze collected data, finding that boredom proneness is associated with overload (stress), which has a bearing on social media overload (strain) and the reduction in final performance (outcome). Through illustrating the psychological and behavioral conditions that hinder the academic performance of students, this study provides deeper insights into students' uncontrollable use of social media. Moreover, with respect to the identified antecedents, this study aims to find solutions to mitigate the impact of social media overload resulting from boredom proneness on the academic performance of college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of technology paved the way for significant improvements in higher education institutions (HEIs) as much as it was associated with sizable pressures for individuals, implied by the challenging task of managing enormous volume of information from digital communication channels. This research is addressing two main objectives. First, explore the extent of Information and Communication Overload (ICO) that accompanied the digital transformation in Kuwaiti HEIs and accelerated amidst the Covid19 pandemic. Second, assess the conditions that are/could be used in those organizations to mitigate ICO and any of its adverse effects.

Social media applications have increasingly become a valuable platform for personal communication and knowledge sharing in working life. Several researchers have considered the direct role of social media usage in influencing job performance. However, limited studies explore how social media use may impact employees’ job performance, especially in innovativeness. Moreover, inconsistencies in the findings exist in the literature regarding whether social media improves employees’ job performance or causes harm. By adapting the stressor–strain–outcome (SSO) model, the present study investigates how WhatsApp use at work can predict social media overloads that might induce technostress and, subsequently, affect employees’ innovative job performance. Thus, 206 Malaysian employees from the government and private sectors participated in this study and the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings show that social media, predominantly WhatsApp, used at work has a mild but statistically significant influence on information overload, communication overload, and social overload. In addition, information overload and communication overload positively influence technostress, except for social overload. Subsequently, technostress does not have an impact on innovative job performance. This study provides theoretical and practical implications for extending the knowledge and mitigating plans and efforts to improve employees’ performance at work. Therefore, this study helps mitigate the dearth of research pertaining to the roles of social media use at work on employees’ innovative job performance.

In social commerce, users are increasingly resorting to social media platforms to search for information, purchase goods, and share shopping experiences. However, social media use may also affect users' emotions negatively, causing them to switch platforms. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how negative factors (i.e., information and communication overload) affect consumers' platform-switching behavior in social commerce. Drawing on the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) model, this study established a research framework and conducted an online survey in China. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect the data, generating 477 valid responses. Data analysis, based on structural equation modeling, indicates that information and communication overload, and online fatigue positively affect platform-switching intention. The effect of the intention to switch on behavior is moderated by switching costs. Mediation analysis shows that information and communication overload can indirectly influence switching behavior through online fatigue and switching intention. This study incorporates the novel aspects of switching costs in examining the driving forces behind platform-switching in social commerce, thereby theoretically adding value to the existing body of knowledge. Apart from this, our findings also bear significant practical implications and are valuable for social commerce platforms and sellers to improve their user experience and retain existing customers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

• Ghosting is notorious among romantic partners, ghosting friends is under-researched. • Research focuses on ghostees' point of view and neglects ghosters' experiences. • Ghosting romantic partners, but not friends, is predicted by communication overload. • One's self-esteem predicts ghosting friends, but not romantic partners. • Ghosting friends increased depressive tendencies, unlike ghosting romantic partners. Ghosting (i.e., terminating communication with another person on social media without explanation) has become an all-too-common occurrence. Prior scholarship has predominantly focused on adverse effects of being ghosted on individuals' well-being and mainly investigated the phenomenon within romantic relationships. By contrast, its occurrence within friendships as well as psychological predictors and effects of ghosting others over time with regard to well-being are not comprehensively understood yet. The present study aims to fill these research gaps using data from a two-wave panel survey among emerging adults between 16 and 21 years. Analyses show that ghosting romantic partners and ghosting friends are different phenomena: While communication overload (i.e., the feeling of receiving more messages than one can handle) positively predicts ghosting romantic partners, ghosting friends is predicted by one's self-esteem. Most notably, ghosting others within romantic relationships did not yield any effects on well-being, whereas ghosting friends increased depressive tendencies over time, demonstrating that ghosting is not only harmful to those who are ghosted, but can also negatively impact those who ghost others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media applications have increasingly become a valuable platform for personal communication and knowledge sharing in working life. Several researchers have considered the direct role of social media usage in influencing job performance. However, limited studies explore how social media use may impact employees' job performance, especially in innovativeness. Moreover, inconsistencies in the findings exist in the literature regarding whether social media improves employees' job performance or causes harm. By adapting the stressor-strain-outcome (SSO) model, the present study investigates how WhatsApp use at work can predict social media overloads that might induce technostress and, subsequently, affect employees' innovative job performance. Thus, 206 Malaysian employees from the government and private sectors participated in this study and the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings show that social media, predominantly WhatsApp, used at work has a mild but statistically significant influence on information overload, communication overload, and social overload. In addition, information overload and communication overload positively influence technostress, except for social overload. Subsequently, technostress does not have an impact on innovative job performance. This study provides theoretical and practical implications for extending the knowledge and mitigating plans and efforts to improve employees' performance at work. Therefore, this study helps mitigate the dearth of research pertaining to the roles of social media use at work on employees' innovative job performance.

Features and relevant services of online social media have been attracting users during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies have shown that college students tend to use social media more frequently than other groups. However, in being affected by social media overload, the social media use behaviors of many college students have been out of their control in terms of their capabilities or cognition. Based on the stressor-strain-outcome (SSO) model and the theory of compensatory internet use (TCIU), we developed a research model to study the causes of social media overload and its impact on college students' academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 441 valid responses from college students through questionnaires in China are collected via purposive sampling and used in the data analysis. This study conducts PLS-SEM to analyze collected data, finding that boredom proneness is associated with overload (stress), which has a bearing on social media overload (strain) and the reduction in final performance (outcome). Through illustrating the psychological and behavioral conditions that hinder the academic performance of students, this study provides deeper insights into students' uncontrollable use of social media. Moreover, with respect to the identified antecedents, this study aims to find solutions to mitigate the impact of social media overload resulting from boredom proneness on the academic performance of college students., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Xu, Li, Zhang, Yue and Ye.)