Always on? Development and validation of the Employee Digital Disconnection Scale (EDDS)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Information and communication technologies (ICTs) profoundly permeated employees’ day-to-day jobs, offering benefits like improved communication and flexibility, but also posing challenges such as interruptions and the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life. The state of being “always on” takes a toll on employees’ mental well-being and job satisfaction. In response, digital disconnection emerged as a strategy for individuals to intentionally limit their use of electronic devices and digital applications. However, limited research exists on digital disconnection within the context of work, and a proper measurement tool is lacking. We address this by introducing the Employee Digital Disconnection Scale (EDDS), a multifaceted measurement tool that captures various disconnective behaviours. The EDDS encompasses three contexts of digital disconnection: disconnecting from work-related ICTs outside of work, disconnecting from private ICTs during work, and disconnecting from work-related ICTs during work. Across five studies, we develop the scale, demonstrate its strong psychometric properties, and explore its associations with stress coping, psychological detachment, concentration, and responsiveness, among other factors. The EDDS serves as a valuable instrument for future research on digital disconnection in the workplace, enabling empirical studies on the antecedents and consequences of digital disconnection on employee well-being and performance.