Causes of digital fatigue among hotel employees in the digital age: configuration study based on fsQCA

Purpose This study aims to explore the necessary and sufficient causal relationships between various influencing factors and digital fatigue among hotel employees, relying on the job demands-resources (JD-R) theory framework. It seeks to reveal the diverse configuration paths that lead to digital fatigue among hotel employees. Design/methodology/approach Six influencing factors, namely digital work overload, digital information overload, digital platform support, organizational support, employee digital literacy and employee resilience, are selected as antecedent variables, with digital fatigue among hotel employees as the outcome variable. The study employs fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to analyze sample data from 188 hotel employees in China. Findings The results indicate that (1) no single antecedent variable constitutes a necessary condition for the occurrence of digital fatigue among hotel employees; (2) three types of configuration pathways leading to digital fatigue are identified: “Personal literacy response deficiency type,” “High-pressure environment stress type” and “Multiple scarcities of job resources type” and (3) three types of configuration pathways for alleviating digital fatigue among hotel employees are also identified: “Engagement moderation type,” “Low-pressure adaptation type” and “Resource-oriented coping type.” Originality/value This research not only deepens our understanding of the complexity and multidimensionality of the causes of digital fatigue among hotel employees but also provides practical guidance for hotel managers in effectively preventing and alleviating employee digital fatigue.