Italian workers face rising technostress from digital work

An Eurispes survey on digital technology use and mental health highlights the rise of ‘technostress’ among Italian workers. The study reveals that 48.2% of respondents engage in professional activities requiring intensive use of digital devices and applications.

A significant finding is the blurring of boundaries between professional and personal time. Approximately 77.3% of those surveyed check professional emails or messages outside of working hours at least occasionally, with 43.5% doing so frequently or always. This digital pressure extends into leisure time, with 75.2% responding to work communications when not on duty, and 68.1% responding even during vacations.

The survey also notes a perceived obligation to be constantly available, with 71.1% feeling compelled to respond immediately at least some of the time. Beyond time commitment, the sheer volume of tools contributes to fatigue: 37.6% feel burdened by the number of platforms required for work, and 39.3% report feeling mentally exhausted by constant technology use. In the six months preceding the survey, 68.6% of respondents experienced symptoms of stress or fatigue linked to professional technology use.