EC Psychology And Psychiatry

Research Article Volume 14 Issue 3 - 2025

Digital Burnout: The Effect of Screen Workloads on Mental Health and Quality of Life

Karoliny de Lima Nardin1*, Flávia Santiago1,2 and Mirella Martins Justi1

1Department of Psychology, Centro Universitário Católico Salesiano Auxilium Unisalesiano, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
2Postgraduate Program in Psychobiology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences, and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, USP, Brazil
*Corresponding Author: Karoliny de Lima Nardin, Department of Psychology, Centro Universitário Católico Salesiano Auxilium Unisalesiano, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Received: January 24, 2025; Published: March 10, 2025



Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of remote work on employees' physical and mental well-being, focusing on excessive screen time, prolonged work hours, and their association with symptoms of digital Burnout Syndrome.

Method: A qualitative-quantitative approach was employed, involving 70 participants working in remote or hybrid modalities. Data were collected through an online questionnaire conducted via Google Forms, where participants provided information about their screen time, work hours, sleep quality, self-perception of physical and mental fatigue, as well as their memory and concentration.

Results: The results suggest that excessive screen time and extended work hours significantly impact the ability to separate professional and personal life. Among the participants, 78% reported working an average of 9 hours daily in front of screens. This difficulty in establishing boundaries was associated with increased physical and mental fatigue, including symptoms such as muscle pain, insomnia, exhaustion, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that difficulty in setting boundaries was the primary predictor of fatigue. The model revealed that 29% of the variation in participants' physical fatigue levels could be explained by factors such as the difficulty in separating work from personal life (R2 = 0.29; F(2,48) = 9.72; p < 0.001). Among these factors, difficulty in establishing boundaries had the greatest impact, with a coefficient of β = 0.39 (p < 0.05). Similarly, 31% of the variation in mental fatigue was explained by the same factors (R2 = 0.31; F(2,48) = 10.65; p < 0.001), with difficulty disconnecting being the main determinant, with a coefficient of β = 0.49 (p < 0.05). These figures highlight how the lack of clear boundaries contributes to increased physical and mental fatigue.

Conclusion: Remote work, while offering flexibility, can lead to blurred boundaries between work and personal life, resulting in significant physical and mental strain. Addressing these challenges requires setting clear limits, promoting sleep hygiene, and fostering healthier work habits.

 Keywords: Burnout; Digital Burnout; Remote Work; Screen Time; Quality of Life

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Karoliny de Lima Nardin., et al. “Digital Burnout: The Effect of Screen Workloads on Mental Health and Quality of Life” ”. EC Psychology and Psychiatry  14.3 (2025): 01-14.

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