Still Feeling the Pressure: Online Conferences a Source of Stress for Many, Five Years Post-Pandemic
- *
Virtual gatherings continue to cause anxiety for numerous individuals - Virtual gatherings continue to trigger stress levels in numerous individuals
Over half a decade after the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, online meetings continue to trigger stress for numerous individuals. A survey by Logitech reveals that 27% of respondents, primarily computer-centric professionals, score a 7 or higher on a stress scale before engaging in an online meeting with external parties like clients or superiors. The percentage dropped slightly to 21% when conferencing with colleagues.
The survey also exposes a notable gender disparity, with female respondents expressing elevated stress levels in all three scenarios, most notably before meetings with external parties (33% vs 22% for male counterparts).
Unexpectedly, data suggests that middle-aged employees are the ones feeling the strain, contradicting age-based stereotypes.
Logitech, the company behind the survey, found that a significant portion (30%) of respondents preferred virtual gatherings. Alarmingly, the same groups that disclosed higher stress levels before meetings—women and middle-aged individuals—were the ones more inclined to opt for online meetings.
Technical issues might be a source of stress for some, with 29% of respondents reporting encounters with such problems. 14% admitted to experiencing technical difficulties regularly, while 12% outright avoided or canceled meetings due to fear of tech-related problems. Despite this, roughly two-thirds of respondents claimed they were well-prepared for virtual meetings, showing little difference between office and home office settings.
"Reliable meeting technology is a competitive edge," explains Serkan Ates of Logitech, asserting that companies offering dependable tech tools to employees will minimize frustration, bolster performance, and boost satisfaction levels. The survey was conducted by YouGov in April and involved around 2,110 participants.
- COVID-19
- Logitech
- Computer
- Performance Pressure
- Technical Issues
Underlying Issues
- Performance Anxiety: The ever-increasing pressure to perform and meet demanding expectations marks an intensified corporate culture in 2025, ultimately seeping into online meetings[3]. This invisible load requires juggling communication technology, engagement, and workload, enhancing overall stress.
- Communication Challenges: The virtual format often leads to communication hurdles and misunderstandings, escalating interpersonal conflicts, and driving up stress during engagements[3].
- Ongoing Adaptation: While initial proficiency in online conferencing was achieved early in the pandemic, the far-reaching repercussions on instructional capabilities and engagement signify that participants still struggle with the medium, contributing to their stress.
- Cultural Lag: The struggle of workplaces to adapt their culture to better accommodate remote and hybrid work modes leaves employees feeling unsupported, which in turn increases stress during online interactions and conferences[3].
Demographic Differences
While research doesn't present specific online conference stress findings by gender and age demographics, studies outside this scope typically reveal:
- Gender Differences: Women often report increased stress in virtual work and conferencing environments due to subsequent work-life balance pressures and exacerbated multitasking demands linked to remote setups.
- Age Differences: Younger professionals/students may experience more stress regarding mental health issues in online educational settings, while older professionals may face different challenges, such as technology unfamiliarity.
In sum, ongoing stress in online conferences stems from escalated workplace demands, ongoing communication issues, and insufficient cultural support for remote work. This stress manifests differently across genders and age groups, with women and younger individuals often reporting higher strain, although specific conference-related data by these demographics remain limited[1][3][4].
- The ongoing stress in online conferences can be attributed to the escalated performance pressure in the corporate culture of 2025, requiring employees to juggle communication technology, engagement, and workload.This stress can also be attributed to communication challenges, ongoing adaptation to the medium, and insufficient cultural support for remote work.
- Women and middle-aged individuals, who reported higher stress levels before meetings, also appeared more inclined to opt for online meetings, potentially exacerbating their stress levels due to technical issues such as unexpected disruptions or difficulties in these meetings. This aligns with research showing that women often experience increased stress in virtual work and conferencing environments, while younger professionals may face more stress related to mental health issues in online educational settings.
