The effects of telework satisfaction and Zoom fatigue on mental health: a pilot study

The current study shows how symptoms of somatization, depression, and anxiety were affected by telework satisfaction and Zoom fatigue. This was made through a quantitative approach in a sample of 199 employees. Somatization, depression, and anxiety symptoms were measured through the BSI-18. The Zoom Exhaustion & Fatigue Scale (ZEFS) was used to evaluate different forms of videoconferencing fatigue, including visual, social, motivational, emotional, and general fatigue. The Work Satisfaction for Teleworkers Questionnaire (WSTQ) was used to measure telework satisfaction. Results indicate that somatization symptoms were significantly predicted by ZEFS-visual fatigue, ZEFS-motivational fatigue, and age. ZEFS-emotional fatigue and respondent's age, predicted depression symptoms. Anxiety scores were significantly predicted by ZEFS-emotional fatigue. When considering ZEFS, respondents' age, sex, and years working at the institution, satisfaction with telework was not related to any mental health indicators. All regression models had large effect sizes. Results suggest that videoconferencing fatigue can have direct repercussions on workers' mental health. The findings are discussed, considering previous research and practical implications.