THE DYNAMIC ASSOCIATION BETWEEN STUDENTS PERSONALITY ATTRIBUTES AND EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION THROUGH MEDIATING MECHANISM OF TECHNOSTRESS

Abstract

This paper explores student’s personality characteristics, technostress, and emotional burnout. Concerning neuroticism and conscientiousness which are the two personality characteristics in question, the study proves that the mentioned personality traits affect emotional exhaustion among students. In addition, the study finds technostress as a moderator, implying that students with high neuroticism and conscientiousness are most vulnerable to technostress that also multiplies their emotional exhaustion. As demonstrated through regression models, there is a positive relationship between neuroticism to technostress and emotional exhaustion In addition, conscientiousness positively influences these results. The mediation analysis supports the current study by showing that technostress only partially mediates the relationship between personality traits and emotional exhaustion, making it imperative that solutions to technostress be implemented in academia. These outcomes justify the provision of appropriate resources containing mental health services and training sessions about useful technological application. Understanding the association of personality and technostress enables the educational institutions to devise best practices to tackle with emotional exhaustion and improve student’s well-being. This study adds knowledge on how the personal characteristics as well as environmental factors affect the health of the students and hence inform research propositions in education practice in the future.

Keywords: Personality Traits, Emotional Exhaustion, Technostress, Higher Education