Modern Virtual Gatherings Still Cause Anxiety for Many
Virtual meetings continue to cause stress for numerous individuals - Virtual gatherings continue to induce stress in numerous individuals
Five years into the reign of video conferences, many people still find them stressful. A survey by Logitech reveal that 27% of respondents feel anxious with a score of 7 or above before a 15-minute meeting with external parties, contrasting with only 21% when engaging with colleagues. The findings are from a sample of computer-centric workers.
Gender plays a significant role in stress levels. Female respondents reported much higher stress levels compared to their male counterparts, with 33% of women anxious before meetings with external parties compared to 22% of men.
Interestingly, age seems to influence stress differently than expected. Middle-aged employees reported the highest levels of stress, while younger and older workers appeared more relaxed.
Most respondents showed a preference for virtual meetings, with 30% choosing this option, while 36% opted for in-person meetings and 27% leaned towards hybrid experiences. Notably, women and middle-aged individuals, who reported feeling particularly stressed during virtual meetings, were more inclined to favor this format.
Technical difficulties also warrant concern, with 29% of respondents reporting such issues. About 12% even avoided or cancelled meetings due to these concerns. Surprisingly, however, approximately two-thirds of respondents asserted that they are adequately prepared for virtual meetings, with no significant difference found between home and office settings.
Serkan Ates of Logitech suggests that dependable meeting technology is now a valuable asset for companies. By providing reliable tools, companies can minimize frustration, boost efficiency, and elevate job satisfaction. The survey was conducted by YouGov, with around 2,110 respondents in April.
- COVID-19 pandemic
- Video Conference
- Logitech
- Computer
- Munich
While specific data regarding Logitech's survey on stress levels during online conferences among women and middle-aged individuals is scarce, we can speculate on potential reasons for this discrepancy. Challenges with technology, societal and cultural factors, differences in comfort with technology, environmental distractions, pressure to maintain a professional image, lack of personal interaction, and difficulty interpreting social cues may all contribute to higher stress levels in these groups. These factors require further investigation to validate their impact on stress during virtual meetings.
- The high levels of stress experienced by women and middle-aged individuals during virtual meetings might be due to factors such as technology challenges, societal and cultural differences, discomfort with technology, environmental distractions, pressure to maintain a professional image, lack of personal interaction, and difficulty interpreting social cues.
- Employment policies in the modern digital workspace could potentially address these issues by prioritizing technology that minimizes frustrations, enhancing employee training for technology use, promoting flexible work schedules to reduce environmental distractions, emphasizing the importance of self-development for adapting to the digital landscape, and encouraging a community policy that fosters open communication and mutual understanding.
- Understanding the reasons behind differing stress levels among genders and age groups could lead to targeted education and self-development programs and tailored employment policies, ultimately improving the overall work experience and job satisfaction in virtual and hybrid work environments.
