The relationship between using communication media in non-working hours and job burnout in Jeddah

Utilization of communication media for work life is an inevitable aspect of most jobs. It is regarded as a two-edged sword, as it significantly affects employees’ mental well-being and efficiency, particularly outside working hours. Despite growing global concern about digital overconnectivity, limited empirical research has examined how communication media use during non-working hours contributes to job burnout, particularly in Saudi Arabia. This research aimed to determine whether using Communication Media in Non-Working Hours (CMNWH) through the lens of Technology-Assisted Supplemental Work (TASW) influences employees’ job burnout level. The burnout was determined using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which typically measures burnout in three facets: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) on a sample of 415 employees in Jeddah. The relationship between the CMNWH and burnout was examined using the regression analysis. The findings showed significant positive correlations among TASW and three sub-scales of burnout, specifically Reduced Personal Accomplishment (r = 0.986), Exhaustion (r = 0.945), and Depersonalization (r = 0.991), at a significance level of p < 0.001. These results validate the evidence that the lack of boundaries between work and life, resulting from continuous connectivity through digital devices, leads to burnout. The research informs about breaking organizational communication boundaries and introducing digital well-being programs.