Virtual gatherings continue to induce stress for numerous participants - Virtual gatherings continue to induce stress for numerous individuals
Five years post-pandemic, virtual meetings continue to spark apprehension for many. A Logitech-commissioned study reveals this, with stress levels varying depending on who's on the screen. The scale of tension scales up to 7 or higher for 27% of respondents, mere minutes before an online gathering with external parties like customers or bosses. This stress index drops to 21% for exchanges with colleagues. The survey focused on individuals predominantly working on computers.
gender is a significant stress determinant. Female respondents showed higher stress levels more frequently than their male counterparts across all scenarios, with a considerable gap of 33% versus 22% for dealings with external entities like clients.
Age also plays a pivotal role - bucking stereotypes. As per the survey, middle-aged employees appear to be the most on edge, while their younger and older peers tend to be calmer.
When asked about their preference, 30% opted for virtual meetings, 36%r preferred physical gatherings, and hybrid events found favor with 27%. Interestingly, women and middle-aged people, reporting higher stress levels, exhibit a penchant for virtual meetings.
Technology faults could be a likely cause for stress. The study reported that 29% experienced tech hiccups, 14% encountered regular technical issues in meetings, and 12% outright avoid or cancel virtual meetups due to technical concerns. Despite this, approximately two-thirds of the respondents expressed being well-equipped for virtual meetings, showing no significant difference between office and work-from-home setups.
Serkan Ates, a Logitech representative, comments, "Dependable meeting tech has become a competitive edge. Companies that arm their employees with reliable tools reduce frustration, boost performance, and enhance satisfaction." Logitech partnered with YouGov to gather data from approximately 2,110 computer-centric workers in April.
- COVID-19 pandemic
- Video Conference
- Logitech
- Technology
- Anxiety
Interpersonal dynamics, societal expectations, and familiarity with technology could contribute to higher stress levels among women and middle-aged individuals in virtual meetings. However, the Logitech survey lacks specific insights into these factors.
- The Logitech-commissioned study reveals that anxiety during virtual conferences can be affected by various factors, such as interpersonal dynamics, societal expectations, and familiarity with technology.
- Interestingly, the data shows that female respondents exhibited higher stress levels more frequently than their male counterparts, particularly when dealing with external entities like clients, a gap of 33% compared to 22%.
- In contrast, middle-aged employees were found to be the most on edge during virtual meetings, while their younger and older peers tended to be calmer.
- Technology faults may contribute to stress, as the survey reported that 29% experienced tech hiccups, 14% encountered regular technical issues, and 12% outright avoid or cancel virtual meetups due to technical concerns.
