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

Abstract

Hongyu An,1,* Xiao Gu,2,* Bojan Obrenovic,3,4,* Danijela Godinic5,* 1School of Journalism and Communication, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, 201620, People’s Republic of China; 2Media Literacy Research Institute, Communication University of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310018, People’s Republic of China; 3Zagreb School of Economics and Management, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia; 4Luxembourg School of Business, Luxembourg, 2453, Croatia; 5Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiao Gu, Media Literacy Research Institute, Communication University of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310018, People’s Republic of China, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected] Bojan Obrenovic, Zagreb School of Economics and Management, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia, Email [email protected]: 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: anxiety, job stress, social media use, JDR-model, Lazarus theory of stress, psychological wellbeing

Keywords

• anxiety
• job stress
• social media use
• jdr-model
• lazarus theory of stress
• psychological wellbeing