Does Technology Matter? How Digital Self-Efficacy Affects the Relationship between ICT Exposure and Job Dissatisfaction

Abstract

Despite multiple potentials of information and communication technologies (ICT), their increasing diffusion at today’s workplaces may lead to psychological issues for employees, unveiling a dark side of ICT use. Our study aims to examine the association between work related ICT exposure (i.e. ICT use and digital work intensification) and job dissatisfaction. We further look at the role of digital self efficacy as a moderator of the effect of digital work intensification. Cross sectional data from a nationally representative study of 1,145 employees were used in multiple regression analysis. Our results show that higher levels of digital work intensification are associated with higher levels of job dissatisfaction. Further, digital self efficacy buffers the effect of digital work intensification on job dissatisfaction. Thus, our findings imply that fostering employees’ confidence in their abilities in dealing with the challenges of digitalization promotes employees’ job satisfaction and coping with the negative effects of work-related ICT exposure.