The Effect of Work-Related Use of Information and Communication Technologies on Employees’ Work Goal Progress and Fatigue: Based on the Transactional Model of Stress

The rapid evolution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has made after-hours work-related ICTs (W_ICTs) use commonplace. The double-edged sword effects of W_ICTs have been widely concerned by researchers, but the role of cognitive appraisal has not been fully investigated. Based on the Transactional Model of Stress, this study explores the underlying mechanism and boundary condition of W_ICTs on work goal progress and fatigue. The hypotheses were tested using 200 two-wave employees’ data. The results showed the following: W_ICTs could improve work goal progress through challenge appraisal; Family Supportive Supervisor Behaviors (FSSB) could strengthen the positive relationship between W_ICTs and challenge appraisal while indirectly strengthening the positive relationship between W_ICTs and work goal progress and the negative relationship between W_ICTs and fatigue. This study revealed the positive impact of W_ICTs and the strengthening effect of FSSB on the W_ICTs–challenge appraisal relationship.