Virtual Meetings Still Cause Stress for Many, Especially Women and Middle-Aged Workers
Virtual meetings remain a source of stress for numerous individuals - For numerous individuals, online conferences continue to induce stress.
After half a decade, video conferences still induce stress for a significant percentage of people. A study by Logitech reveals that 27% of respondents score 7 or higher (out of 10) 15 minutes before a virtual encounter with external parties, such as clients or superiors. The stress levels for meetings with colleagues are notably lower, at 21%.
Interestingly, the degree of stress varies by gender. Female participants reported feeling more stressed in all three scenarios compared to their male counterparts. The discrepancy is especially notable during interactions with external parties, with 33% of women and 22% of men reporting high stress levels.
Surprisingly, age is another crucial factor. Contrary to popular belief, middle-aged workers experience the highest levels of stress, while younger and older workers generally feel less stressed.
Despite the stress, many people are not averse to virtual meetings. 30% of respondents prefer virtual meetings, 36% opt for in-person meetings, and a hybrid approach is favored by 27%. Notably, women and middle-aged individuals slightly lean towards virtual meetings, despite reporting higher stress levels before these virtual engagements.
Technical glitches could be a cause of stress. Nearly a third (29%) of respondents reported technical issues during meetings, with 14% admitting to experiencing such problems regularly. 12% of respondents even avoid or cancel online meetings out of fear of technical problems. However, roughly two-thirds of participants feel well-prepared for virtual meetings, with no significant difference between office and home office settings.
Serkan Ates of Logitech believes, "Reliable meeting technology is a competitive advantage. Companies that provide dependable tools to their employees reduce frustration, enhance performance, and boost satisfaction." The study was conducted by YouGov in April 2022, including approximately 2,110 individuals who primarily work on computers.
- Virtual Meetings
- Stress
- Work Environment
- Technology
- Logitech
Enrichment Insights:
The high stress levels among women and middle-aged workers could be attributable to various factors, such as technical barriers, social and emotional difficulties, inadequate work environment, and perception of virtual meetings.
- Technological Barriers: Poor workplace technology could create inequity, particularly affecting remote workers who may struggle to stay engaged in virtual meetings, which may contribute to heightened stress levels.[1]
- Social and Emotional Factors: Women and middle-aged workers may experience increased stress due to social distancing, isolation, imposter syndrome, and emotional stress common in virtual environments.[2]
- Work Environment: Inadequate home office setups can cause physical discomfort, distractions, and increasing stress among remote workers.[4]
- Perception of Virtual Meetings: While these groups might prefer virtual meetings for flexibility, they also might feel pressure to maintain a professional image, manage family responsibilities, or deal with technical issues, all of which can boost stress levels.
- The logitech study reveals that stress levels are higher among women and middle-aged workers during virtual meetings, especially when interacting with external parties or colleagues.
- The stress experienced in virtual meetings could be due to various factors, such as technological barriers, social and emotional difficulties, inadequate work environment, and perception of virtual meetings.
- Despite the stress, many people, including women and middle-aged workers, prefer virtual meetings, underscoring the importance of reliable meeting technology to reduce frustration, enhance performance, and boost satisfaction, according to Serkan Ates of Logitech.
- Poor workplace technology could create inequity, contributing to increased stress levels among remote workers, particularly women and middle-aged workers, as seen in the logitech study.
