Video conference fatigue, a common phenomenon where people experience discomfort during virtual meetings, is linked to dissatisfaction about their facial appearance, according to a new study. Researchers found that workers who frequently use videoconferencing tend to report little distress overall, but women and people of color are more likely to experience this phenomenon.
The study, led by Chaeyun Lim from Michigan State University, investigated the impact of impression management features on virtual meeting fatigue. The researchers recruited 2,448 US-based workers and found that those who reported higher facial appearance dissatisfaction also experienced higher levels of VM fatigue.
This in turn led to increased use of impression management features to modify their appearance. However, this phenomenon has significant limitations, including its inability to reveal causal relationships and the recruitment of only workers from the US for the survey.
The study’s authors suggest that future research should recruit subjects from broader cultural contexts to investigate ways of alleviating VM fatigue. The findings highlight the need to address the psychological barriers to adopting virtual meeting technologies, contributing to technology inequity in the workplace.
Researchers note that excessive screen time and social media engagement can exacerbate negative perceptions of self-image, while prolonged use of videoconferencing may lead to concerns about critical evaluation. Turning off self-video has been proposed as a solution, but it remains impractical for many users who want to monitor their appearance during meetings.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/zoom-fatigue-scientists-say-your-face-might-be-the-problem