Effects of task interruptions caused by notifications from communication applications on strain and performance

Objectives: To examine the effect of automatic communication notifications on performance and strain, and whether fear of missing out (FoMO) and social norms of responsiveness (telepressure) moderate these effects. Methods: A field experiment (N=247) was conducted in which participants in the experimental group disabled their notifications during 1 day (N=124). Results: Reducing notification-caused interruptions improved performance and reduced strain. Moderation by FoMO and telepressure was significant for performance. Conclusions: Reducing the number of notifications is recommended, especially for employees low in FoMO and medium to high in telepressure. Future work should analyze the role of anxiety impeding cognitive performance when notifications are disabled.