The so-called ‘Zoom fatigue’ – which many of us have come to experience in the past 18 months – disproportionally affects women and new recruits, finds research.
Zoom fatigue is made worse when cameras are required to be on, and leads to less engagement, reports the study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, suggesting, too, that both gender and length of time spent within an organisation have an impact on fatigue.
The study’s participants were employees from a company with a largely remote workforce, already accustomed to online meetings pre-pandemic.
In the study, participants were asked to take part in meetings with cameras either on or off for two weeks before switching to the opposite option for the next two weeks. At the end of each working day, they completed an assessment.
Having cameras turned on did make participants feel more fatigued, and those who were more fatigued felt less engaged and less like they had a voice in their meetings, finds the study. Gender and length of time at the organisation also had an impact. The relationship between having the camera turned on and fatigue was stronger for women than men, and for those new to the organisation compared to those who’d worked there for a longer time.
The researchers’ hypothesis is being or feeling observed increases the need to manage others’ impressions and directs our focus inwards, tiring us out. Women and new hires may be particularly prone to anxious self-presentation because of existing appearance standards and a heightened need to appear competent and effective.
- Full report: https://bit.ly/3vzuIUX