Drivers and Outcomes of Responsiveness to Technological Interruptions from Work during Nonwork TIme

Drawing on identity theory (especially the components of structural symbolic interactionism and role theory—Burke and Stets, 2009; Stryker, 1980) and interruption theory (Thoits, 1991), this dissertation proposes a model that posits identity as an important factor impacting whether or not workers respond to electronic communications from work during nonwork time, and how this relates to career and personal outcomes. Additionally, this research asks what relates to employees’ tetheredness, or their cognitive dependence on communication devices. Results indicate that relational identity, exemplification, and conscientiousness all contribute to tetheredness. Furthermore, the results of this research go against the anecdotal stories of the benefits of being “always on,” finding that greater employee responsiveness to work-nonwork technological interruptions is positively related to increased work-family conflict and job stress. Additionally, the results of this study found that both employees and family members are confronted with blurred boundaries from employee responsiveness to work-nonwork technological interruptions. WFC and job stress serve as mediators between employee responsiveness to work-nonwork technological interruptions and career as well as personal outcomes rated by the focal employee and/or a family member or significant other.