Effects of technostress on professional performance

Purpose This study analyzes the effects of technostress on work engagement, workplace distraction, and professional performance. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a quantitative approach, using Structural Equation Models to test five hypotheses. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to 364 professionals who used information technology in their activities. Findings The results demonstrated that technostress exerted opposite influences on work engagement and workplace distraction. In addition, the results indicate that more engaged and less distracted professionals tend to achieve higher performance levels in their activities. The research also revealed that more engaged professionals tend to be less prone to distractions during their activities. Practical implications The study advocates that Organizations should invest in strategies to reduce the impact of technostress to increase work engagement and professional performance and reduce workplace distractions. Originality/value This study advances the literature by integrating technostress, work engagement and workplace distraction into a single structural model, highlighting their simultaneous and contrasting effects on employees' professional performance. This research provides a more comprehensive understanding of how technostress operates as a dual mechanism, both reducing engagement and increasing distraction, thereby extending the JD-R framework in the context of digital work.