Exploring Technostress and Meta-Work: Identifying Subgroups Among Finnish Employees

This study employed a mixed-methods approach to identify subgroups among Finnish employees based on the interplay between meta-work—such as troubleshooting—and technostress, the strain caused by technology use. Using data from an online questionnaire, we identified four technostress subgroups through thematic, correspondence, and cluster analyses: (1) moderate technostress and intense meta-work engagement, (2) high technostress and moderate meta-work engagement, (3) low technostress with effective coping and low meta-work engagement, and (4) low technostress with ineffective coping and very low meta-work engagement. Each subgroup varied by technological skills, age, and organizational factors. Meta-work was found to increase burdens and worsen technostress. To minimize technostress, organizations should address meta-work effects, offer tailored training, implement user-friendly technologies, and create supportive work environments. By automating and simplifying processes, the workload of employees can be reduced. Understanding technostress and meta-work improves well-being and productivity, so studying their long-term effects and coping strategies is important.