Mobile communications anytime, anywhere: The impact on work-life balance and stress

Mobile communication technologies have fundamentally altered the concept of going to work. Work has been transformed from a place you go to a function you perform, whenever and wherever you are. Laptops, smartphones, and tablets enable users to transition seamlessly between work and personal activities anytime and anywhere. The effect of this capability on an individual's ability to balance their work and personal life and manage personal stress remains under study. One thing is clear. Modern societies are still in the early stages of this transformation. While 88% of Americans have cell phones, only 46% have Smartphones and just 19% have Tablet PCs. These devices are fast, powerful, and quickly become integrated into our lives as constant companions. This paper presents the results of a survey of engineering and technology students at a Midwestern university. No significant relationship between laptop use and personal stress was found and work-life balance was only negatively impacted when usage exceeded 3 hours on days off. While significant percentages of smartphone users reported increased stress, similar percentages felt the accessibility of the smartphone reduced their stress levels. Users overwhelmingly responded that smartphones improve their ability to balance their work and personal life.