How digital mismatch leads to digital burnout among grassroots public servants in China: the moderating role of leadership care and organizational incentives

Background Digital burnout is an increasingly prominent mental health issue in the modern digitalized workplace. As promoters, implementers, and experiencers of digital transformation, grassroots public servants face heightened occupational health risks in technology-driven environments. This study aims to explore the formative and buffering mechanisms of digital burnout among them, providing empirical evidence for maintaining the well-being of the public servant workforce and constructing a sustainable digital work environment. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted using convenience sampling and snowball sampling methods. A total of 656 valid questionnaires were collected from three cities in China (Shanghai, Wuhan, and Chengdu), representing the eastern, central, and western regions of the country, respectively. The data were analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Structural Equation Modeling, and Regression Analysis to test the proposed hypotheses. Results Digital mismatch was identified as a critical antecedent to digital burnout. Specifically: (1) Digital suspension and digital overload positively predicted work stress, which in turn significantly exacerbated digital burnout; (2) Digital suspension and the digital divide had negative impact on technology identity, which effectively mitigated digital burnout; (3) Leadership care and organizational incentives played a significant negative moderating role in the relationship between digital overload and work stress, indicating that organizational support is a crucial buffering factor. Conclusion The results indicate that digital mismatch affects digital burnout through dual mechanisms of “increased work stress” and “reduced technology identity,” while confirming the moderating effects of leadership care and organizational incentives in certain paths. These findings suggest that alleviating digital burnout among employees requires focused efforts on digital suspension, the digital divide, and digital overload, by establishing an occupational health protection system encompassing technological, organizational, and individual dimensions.