Neurodiversity and Technostress: Towards a Multimodal Research Design for Evaluating Subjective, Physiological, and Behavioral Responses

TL;DR

This paper proposes a multimodal experimental research design to compare neurodivergent and neurotypical responses to digital stress, aiming for more inclusive understanding of technostress.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic, multimodal methodology for studying digital stress across neurodiverse populations, filling a gap in existing research.

Findings

Design combines subjective, physiological, and behavioral measures.

Addresses neurodiversity in technostress research.

Provides a framework for inclusive digital work environments.

Abstract

Digitalization has transformed modern work by increasing efficiency while also introducing new forms of strain. Technostress (TS) describes subjective, physiological, and behavioral stress responses related to digital technology use. Existing TS research has predominantly focused on neurotypical populations and rarely integrates multiple stress dimensions within a single design. This paper addresses these gaps by proposing a controlled experimental research design that systematically compares neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals under standardized digital stress conditions. The proposed design combines structured and unstructured digital tasks with a multimodal measurement approach covering subjective perceptions, physiological activation, and observable interaction behavior. By integrating neurodiversity into TS research, the paper contributes to a more differentiated understanding of digital stress and provides a methodological approach for more inclusive digital work design.