Back, headache and co. Digital stress causes health problems

Digital stress in Germany: increase in health complaints

More and more employees in Germany are exposed to digital stress. Many of them cause health problems such as back pain, headaches and general fatigue.

Stress and strain due to work

Over the past few years, several studies have been published that highlight the impact of modern technology on our health. Among other things, it could be shown that digitization disturbs sleep. In addition, digital stress leads to many health problems such as back pain, headache and general fatigue. This has now shown the most extensive representative survey of workers on workloads and workloads with digital technologies.

Digital stress causes health problems for many workers, such as back pain, headaches and general fatigue. (Image: peterruter / fotolia.com)

So far the largest study on the subject

As the University of Augsburg reports in a communication, 25 to 34-year-olds are digitally more stressed than other age groups.

However, this is not the only surprise of the 2,640 participants so far the largest and most comprehensive study on "Digital Stress in Germany".

The study, funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation, was prepared by scientists of the University of Augsburg under the direction of Prof. Dr. med. Henner Gimpel and in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Project Group Business Informatics.

"Our study, which is representative across industries and federal states," explains industrial engineer Gimpel, "deals with the advancing digitization and the resulting changes in the profile of stress and strain in the workplace."

The expert continues: "Often, the working population does not know how to use it or does not do it adequately. The result: digital stress. "

Significant increase in health complaints

Digital stress is a phenomenon or problem that can be detected across all regions, sectors, types of activity and individual demographic factors.

The study shows that excessive digital stress is associated with a significant increase in health complaints.

For example, more than half of the workers exposed to high levels of digital stress suffer from back pain, headaches and general fatigue.

In addition, excessive digital stress has been shown to reduce work performance, while accompanying a strong work-life conflict.

Women suffer more from digital stress

As the communication states, the degree of digitization of the workplace is not the sole determinant of the level of digital stress.

Rather, the imbalance between the skills in dealing with digital technologies on the one hand and the demands they place on workers, on the other, plays a key role.

"All the more surprising is our finding that digital stress is more pronounced among 25- to 34-year-old workers than in other age groups," says Gimpel.

It is also noteworthy that women who work in more digitized jobs feel more competent than men but at the same time suffer more from digital stress than men.

According to the information, the uncertainty in dealing with digital technologies is perceived by all sexes as the biggest stressor.

However, the unreliability of technologies and the flooding with digital technologies in all areas of life, in particular, play a significant role alongside other factors.

Avoid misuse

"The findings that we were able to obtain suggest measures that are primarily aimed at avoiding stress caused by digital stress," summarizes Gimpfel.

"These include, first and foremost, behavioral preventive measures such as the acquisition or acquisition of competences in dealing with digital technologies as well as coping with digital stress," says the expert.

"In terms of ratio prevention, however, it is also about using digital technologies in a measured and individually optimized manner, providing and ensuring support, and placing the highest importance on the reliability of the design of the digital technologies used."

Digital Diet

In addition, "digital fasting" can help to minimize stress, at least during leisure time.

According to experts, these included breaks in which smartphones and the Internet are deliberately ignored. One way is to turn on flight mode.

In addition, professional mails should not be answered during leisure time. Digital stress can be avoided if the cell phone does not set the pace.

Helps to prevent apps from being pushed and to ban smartphones from the dining table or bedtime out of the bedroom. (Ad)