The Role of Job Insecurity, Social Media Exposure, and Job Stress in Predicting Anxiety Among White-Collar Employees

Hongyu An; Xiao Gu; Bojan Obrenovic; Danijela Godinic

doi:10.2147/PRBM.S416100

The Role of Job Insecurity, Social Media Exposure, and Job Stress in Predicting Anxiety Among White-Collar Employees

Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2023 Aug 18:16:3303-3318. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S416100. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Hongyu An^#¹, Xiao Gu^#², Bojan Obrenovic^#^{3

4}, Danijela Godinic^#⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Journalism and Communication, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China.
² Media Literacy Research Institute, Communication University of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310018, People's Republic of China.
³ Zagreb School of Economics and Management, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.
⁴ Luxembourg School of Business, Luxembourg, 2453, Croatia.
⁵ Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the combined effects and relationships between social media exposure, job insecurity, job stress, and anxiety among individuals and to propose an innovative model exploring how these factors contribute to increased anxiety.

Patients and methods: This empirical research paper focuses on understanding the role of job insecurity, social media exposure, and job stress in predicting anxiety levels. The study was conducted on a sample of 292 white-collar employees in various organizations and institutions across the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis, during the broader transition to a digital working environment. A self-report Likert-type questionnaire was administered to measure employees' job stress, uncertainty, anxiety levels and social media exposure. The present study employed theoretical background of Lazarus' Theory of Psychological Stress and the JDR Model. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the relationships between these constructs, while confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess the validity of the measurement model.

Results: The study provides empirical support for the claim that employees with pervasive job stress will likely develop anxiety symptoms. It also highlights the mechanisms by which social media exposure increases employees' anxiety levels and how management and policymakers can buffer the stressors.

Conclusion: The research emphasizes the importance of addressing occupational mental health problems, and the implications of the findings indicate the need for managerial interventions in securing effective measures for buffering stress and controlled social media usage. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by informing managers and policymakers on key aspects to consider in promoting psychological balance and a healthy organizational climate.

Keywords: JDR-model; Lazarus theory of stress; anxiety; job stress; psychological wellbeing; social media use.

Grants and funding

1. National Social Science Foundation of China (grant number No.20BZX057).2. 2023 Regular Subjects of Hangzhou Philosophy and Social Science Planning (grant numbers NO.Z23YD032).3. China Federation of Radio and Television Associations “2022 Media Literacy Special Research Project” (grant numbers No.2022ZGL011).