The mental health of workers: Associations with work-related hyperconnectivity and individual and organisational factors

This study analyses the relationship between work-related hyperconnectivity and the mental health of workers, as well as identifies associations between this phenomenon and different sociodemographic and organizational variables. Despite growing research on work-related hyperconnectivity, few studies have directly examined its relationship with multiple specific mental health indicators. Data were collected via an ad hoc online questionnaire from a sample of 1847 workers in Spain. For the evaluation of mental health, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS-8), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used. ROC curve analysis and multiple binary logistic regression models were performed. 49.5% of the sample was found to have a severely hyperconnected profile. Hyperconnectivity was negatively associated with workers’ mental health. Severely hyperconnected women were more likely to experience impaired psychological well-being, insomnia, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Age, hybrid work and family responsibilities were positively associated with the degree of hyperconnectivity suffered by workers. By jointly examining multiple mental health indicators and individual and organizational factors, this study contributes to understanding work-related hyperconnectivity and highlights the need for organizational policies and practices that actively promote digital disconnection to protect workers’ mental health.