Zoom Fatigue and Integrated Anxiety-Stress: The Mediating Roles of Mind Wandering and Boredom Proneness

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on many aspects of daily living, resulting in specific precautions that had to be taken to inhibit the spread of the virus. Due to this, in-person face-to-face education was suspended, and distance education was implemented. Online platforms such as Zoom are frequently used in conjunction with distance education. However, Zoom fatigue has developed as a result of excessive and uncontrolled use. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between Zoom fatigue and integrated anxiety-stress, the relationship of this association with mind wandering and boredom proneness, and whether this association is mediated by them. The sample comprised 321 adults (48 % females, Mage = 24.89 years, SD = 8.70) in different regions of Türkiye, between the ages of 18 and 66 years, and from different occupational groups. According to the results of serial mediation analyses, Zoom fatigue had a significant direct effect on integrated anxiety-stress. The combination of mind wandering and boredom proneness serially mediated the relationship between Zoom fatigue and integrated anxiety-stress. All results are discussed in the context of the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the relevant literature.