In the Shadow of Digital Burnout: A Qualitative Study on Academic Nurses' Perspectives on Digital Fatigue and Mental Health

BACKGROUND: The rapid integration of digital technologies into academic and professional life has significantly increased screen time and workload, leading to growing concerns about digital fatigue and its impact on mental health. This study employs a qualitative research approach to investigate the perspectives of academic nurses on the effects of digital fatigue on their mental health. METHODS: This qualitative study utilized a pre-developed interview schedule to conduct in-depth interviews with 19 academic nurses residing in the northern region of Türkiye. All interviews were conducted online via Google Meet in accordance with participants' availability and preferences. Participants were identified through snowball sampling based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. The interviews were conducted without audio recording, and the data were collected through detailed field notes. The study data were evaluated using thematic analysis. The study was conducted and reported in accordance with the COREQ checklist. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed four themes (Multidimensional impact of digital exposure, Social consequences of digital fatigue, Coping and support strategies, Institutional and policy-level challenges) and 11 subthemes (Physical effects, Mental effects, Cognitive effects, Social isolation, Disconnection from reality, Personal physical measures, Psychological measures, Social support, Environmental regulations, Work-life balance challenges, Need for education and awareness). CONCLUSION: The study revealed the adverse effects of technology use by nurse academics in the digital age. It was determined that the social lives of nurse academics were negatively impacted by digital exposure, resulting in digital fatigue. It was also found that some nurse academics had difficulty coping with this fatigue. It is recommended to conduct research examining the relationship between the effects of digital fatigue on personality, digital literacy, mental health, and life satisfaction, addressing the impact of digital platforms that cause fatigue, and evaluating users' awareness levels of digital network fatigue. In this context, addressing digital fatigue requires the integration of psychiatric nursing approaches focused on mental health promotion and coping enhancement, together with public health nursing strategies emphasizing preventive interventions, digital hygiene policies, and institutional regulation to ensure sustainable and healthy academic work environments. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study highlights the critical impact of digital fatigue on the mental health of academic nurses, emphasizing its potential to impair professional functioning and wellbeing. Recognizing and addressing digital burnout can inform the development of organizational strategies to promote healthier digital practices and a better work-life balance. The findings offer valuable insights for healthcare institutions to support the mental resilience of academic nurses in increasingly digitalized work environments. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Academic nurses shared their experiences and insights, contributing to a deeper understanding of how digital fatigue impacts mental health in healthcare settings.