Checking email less frequently reduces stress

K Kushlev, EW Dunn - Computers in Human Behavior, 2015 - Elsevier
Computers in Human Behavior, 2015Elsevier
Using email is one of the most common online activities in the world today. Yet, very little
experimental research has examined the effect of email on well-being. Utilizing a within-
subjects design, we investigated how the frequency of checking email affects well-being
over a period of two weeks. During one week, 124 adults were randomly assigned to limit
checking their email to three times a day; during the other week, participants could check
their email an unlimited number of times per day. We found that during the limited email use …
Abstract
Using email is one of the most common online activities in the world today. Yet, very little experimental research has examined the effect of email on well-being. Utilizing a within-subjects design, we investigated how the frequency of checking email affects well-being over a period of two weeks. During one week, 124 adults were randomly assigned to limit checking their email to three times a day; during the other week, participants could check their email an unlimited number of times per day. We found that during the limited email use week, participants experienced significantly lower daily stress than during the unlimited email use week. Lower stress, in turn, predicted higher well-being on a diverse range of well-being outcomes. These findings highlight the benefits of checking email less frequently for reducing psychological stress.
Elsevier