Smartphone Use and Technostress : Hindrances to Users’ Humanistic and Instrumental Goals

Abstract

Information technology (IT) has become integral to many people’s daily lives as smartphones have been widely diffused in our society. As a result, exploring the various consequences of their use has become crucial. Over the past 15 years, technostress (i.e., stress caused by IT use) has gained increased scholarly attention. However, previous studies have been limited in identifying smartphone users’ specific humanistic and instrumental goals in relation to their experiences of technostress. By applying a qualitative research approach and collecting and analyzing data from 30 semi-structured interviews, we contribute to research by exploring smartphone-related technostress that creates hindrances to users’ humanistic and instrumental goals. We identify six humanistic goals (personal interests, meaningful life, being yourself, relaxation and recovery, sleep, and social relationships) and four instrumental goals (studying, work, mundane tasks, and personal information management), and uncover the hindrances smartphone-related technostress creates to them. We discuss the different goals that comprise smaller sub-goals, approaching goals from a hierarchical perspective. In addition, we contribute to research by exploring smartphone use, technostress, and conflicting goals. Our practical implications are multifold, highlighting the benefits for users and service providers.