Measuring Work Demands and Resources of Digitalisation: The ICT Resources and Stressors Scale

New information and communication technologies (ICTs) have fundamentally changed work and working conditions. Digitalisation holds great potential, but studies also show that increased work-related stress accompanies this transformation. Nevertheless, few validated self-report instruments measuring stressors and resources from digitalisation are available. Thus, this study aimed to develop a questionnaire that is broadly applicable to employees in different sectors and professions. First, we identified existing ICT-specific constructs and revised their definitions to ensure content validity. Experts then rated the comprehensibility and content validity of these scales. Subsequently, 375 individuals participated in an online survey to conduct an item analysis and to evaluate reliability and validity. The resulting questionnaire comprises the three resources involvement facilitation, ICT control, and ICT resources and upgrades, as well as the stressor telepressure. The four scales comprise 16 items, which performed well in our item analysis and showed good reliabilities. Subsequent analyses using structural equation modelling revealed that the indicators appropriately capture the constructs at the scale level. Furthermore, they predict health and organisational outcomes beyond the influence of established general resources and stressors, thus demonstrating incremental validity. The new ICT Resources and Stressors Scale is recommended for use in organisational settings or stress monitoring studies.