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Virtual meetings and wellbeing : insights from the COVID-19 pandemic

(2023) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & PEOPLE. 36(5). p.1766-1789
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Organization
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between virtual meeting participation and wellbeing. Based on the conservation of resources theory, we hypothesize that participation in more virtual meetings is associated with both negative and positive wellbeing indicators. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was sent to 3,530 employees across five Belgian universities in April 2020. Useful data from 814 respondents was collected and analyzed to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings The authors find support for their hypotheses, namely that participating in more virtual meetings is associated not only with negative wellbeing indicators (workload, stress and fatigue) but also with a positive wellbeing indicator, namely work influence. Research limitations/implications Given the unique work-from-home context during the pandemic, the generalizability of our findings may be limited. Nevertheless, this study contributes to the literature on Meeting Science and Virtual Work, as it is the first study to empirically relate virtual meetings to wellbeing indicators, including a positive one. Practical implications As virtual meetings and work-from-home are expected to remain prevalent, understanding wellbeing implications is of high managerial importance. Their findings can be useful for (HR) managers who develop flexible work policies for a post-pandemic world. Social implications The findings draw attention to the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between productivity and wellbeing in creating a sustainable work(-from-home) context. Originality/value The COVID-19 lockdown provided a unique opportunity to obtain insight on the relationship between virtual meetings and wellbeing at an unprecedented scale.
Keywords
Library and Information Sciences, Computer Science Applications, Information Systems, Virtual meetings, Wellbeing, COVID-19 pandemic, Work-from-home, Meeting, science, Field study, WORK, COMMUNICATION, CONSERVATION, RESOURCES, ENGAGEMENT, DEMANDS, BAD

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Citation

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MLA
Standaert, Willem, et al. “Virtual Meetings and Wellbeing : Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & PEOPLE, vol. 36, no. 5, 2023, pp. 1766–89, doi:10.1108/itp-01-2021-0022.
APA
Standaert, W., Thunus, S., & Schoenaers, F. (2023). Virtual meetings and wellbeing : insights from the COVID-19 pandemic. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & PEOPLE, 36(5), 1766–1789. https://doi.org/10.1108/itp-01-2021-0022
Chicago author-date
Standaert, Willem, Sophie Thunus, and Frédéric Schoenaers. 2023. “Virtual Meetings and Wellbeing : Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & PEOPLE 36 (5): 1766–89. https://doi.org/10.1108/itp-01-2021-0022.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Standaert, Willem, Sophie Thunus, and Frédéric Schoenaers. 2023. “Virtual Meetings and Wellbeing : Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & PEOPLE 36 (5): 1766–1789. doi:10.1108/itp-01-2021-0022.
Vancouver
1.
Standaert W, Thunus S, Schoenaers F. Virtual meetings and wellbeing : insights from the COVID-19 pandemic. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & PEOPLE. 2023;36(5):1766–89.
IEEE
[1]
W. Standaert, S. Thunus, and F. Schoenaers, “Virtual meetings and wellbeing : insights from the COVID-19 pandemic,” INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & PEOPLE, vol. 36, no. 5, pp. 1766–1789, 2023.
@article{01GQTBBJZQD5CXY5DEDJV96FP8,
  abstract     = {{Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between virtual meeting participation and wellbeing. Based on the conservation of resources theory, we hypothesize that participation in more virtual meetings is associated with both negative and positive wellbeing indicators. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was sent to 3,530 employees across five Belgian universities in April 2020. Useful data from 814 respondents was collected and analyzed to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings The authors find support for their hypotheses, namely that participating in more virtual meetings is associated not only with negative wellbeing indicators (workload, stress and fatigue) but also with a positive wellbeing indicator, namely work influence. Research limitations/implications Given the unique work-from-home context during the pandemic, the generalizability of our findings may be limited. Nevertheless, this study contributes to the literature on Meeting Science and Virtual Work, as it is the first study to empirically relate virtual meetings to wellbeing indicators, including a positive one. Practical implications As virtual meetings and work-from-home are expected to remain prevalent, understanding wellbeing implications is of high managerial importance. Their findings can be useful for (HR) managers who develop flexible work policies for a post-pandemic world. Social implications The findings draw attention to the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between productivity and wellbeing in creating a sustainable work(-from-home) context. Originality/value The COVID-19 lockdown provided a unique opportunity to obtain insight on the relationship between virtual meetings and wellbeing at an unprecedented scale.}},
  author       = {{Standaert, Willem and Thunus, Sophie and Schoenaers, Frédéric}},
  issn         = {{0959-3845}},
  journal      = {{INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & PEOPLE}},
  keywords     = {{Library and Information Sciences,Computer Science Applications,Information Systems,Virtual meetings,Wellbeing,COVID-19 pandemic,Work-from-home,Meeting,science,Field study,WORK,COMMUNICATION,CONSERVATION,RESOURCES,ENGAGEMENT,DEMANDS,BAD}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{1766--1789}},
  title        = {{Virtual meetings and wellbeing : insights from the COVID-19 pandemic}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1108/itp-01-2021-0022}},
  volume       = {{36}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}

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