Psychology of Computer Use: VII. Measuring Technostress: Computer-Related Stress

TLDR

The Computer Technology Hassles Scale was created to quantify technostress, defined as computer‑related stress. The scale consists of 65 items rated on a graded response, and participants also completed the Perceived Stress Scale, a Computer Attitude Scale, and provided demographic information. Scores on the scale correlated positively with perceived stress and computer‑use hours but not with computer attitudes, indicating it measures a distinct stress dimension that rises with greater computer use.

Abstract

The Computer Technology Hassles Scale was developed to measure technostress or computer-related stress. The Computer Technology Hassles Scale was based on the idea that certain interactions with computer technology are perceived by people to be stressful or a “hassle.” Subjects rated a list of 65 “hassles” as to severity, using a graded response. To ascertain the relation of the Computer Technology Hassles Scale to other measures, the subjects were given the Perceived Stress Scale, a measure of global stress. Subjects were also given a measure of computer attitudes, the Computer Attitude Scale. Demographic data on each subject were also collected. The correlational analyses showed that scores on the Computer Technology Hassles Scale were significantly correlated with scores on the Perceived Stress Scale and the number of hours of computer use but not with attitudes toward computers. These results suggest that the Computer Technology Hassles Scale taps a dimension of psychological stress and that increased computer use for some people leads to increased computer-related stress.