Overwhelmed and Exhausted: Exploring the Antecedents and Outcomes of Information Fatigue Through the Stressor-Strain-Outcome Model

Abstract

Despite digital platforms increasingly optimizing for engagement, less work has addressed how users experience and adapt to the resulting fatigue. This qualitative study employs the Stressor-Strain-Outcome (SSO) model to investigate information fatigue in digital environments. Focus group interviews were conducted with 52 participants across three age groups (youth, adult, and senior) with two focus groups per age category. Through grounded theory analysis, we conceptualize information fatigue as a multidimensional syndrome manifested through cognitive, physical, and psychologicaldimensions. This phenomenon is driven by the interplay of platform (disruptive features, navigation complexity), individual (fear of missing out, social comparison, loss of autonomy), and information (redundancy, complexity, negativity). Our findings further uncover three adaptive outcomes: discontinuance, information management, and information detox. Importantly, these strategies constitute flexible and dynamic coping mechanisms rather than isolated behaviors, influenced by individual differences such as stress levels and personal resilience.