What is Zoom fatigue and why does it happen? Scientists may have found an answer

Videoconferencing has seamlessly entered our work lives and became an unavoidable part in a modern office set up as they are not only convenient but also offer flexibility. However, there is one potential drawback of back-to-back work meetings which could affect your efficiency. Zoom fatigue is real and could significantly drain energy, making you feel exhausted. The reason why it happens has been finally answered by scientists.

A new study led by Chaeyun Lim from Michigan State University and published in journal PLOS One, finds that the Zoom fatigue could be linked with dissatisfaction over one's facial appearance. While remote work offers flexibility and better work-life balance, one of the unpleasant aspects of it could be videoconferencing which could be secretly affecting mental health.

"Despite VM fatigue's critical role in shaping workplace interactions and digital inclusion in emerging virtual work environments, its effects on VM adoption – and the mechanisms linking facial appearance concerns, VM fatigue, and VM adoption – remain underexplored," the authors write.

In hopes of addressing that, Lim and her team investigated impression management features – tools in videoconferencing software that let users adjust their appearance by tweaking the video feed of themselves.

What the study found

Around 2,448 US-based workers from various professional, technical, or scientific fields were involved in this study. All of them worked at least sometimes remotely and regularly participated in virtual meetings for work.

A 15-minute survey assessed volunteers' feelings about their facial appearance and use of impression-management tools, such as touch-up features, video filters, or avatars, to enhance their self-video.

Researchers found that people who reported greater facial appearance dissatisfaction also faced higher levels of virtual meeting (VM) fatigue. This led to greater use of impression management features to modify the person's appearance.

While some may have already experienced facial appearance dissatisfaction before developing VM fatigue,
staring at themselves on screens may have further increased this dissatisfaction.

"Excessive screen time, engagement with social media, and selective self-presentation through modifying photos before posting them have long been associated with appearance dissatisfaction," researchers wrote.

"Similarly, the extended amount of time spent on VMs may exacerbate negative perceptions of self-image, as well as concerns of critical evaluation."

The facial appearance dissatisfaction could also stem from negative perceptions about virtual meetings as some people tend to feel they aren't useful, revealed a study.

What can be done to tackle this?

To tackle this, users may use the “hide self-view” button, once they see their face is framed properly in the video. If the meetings stretch on for too long, one can give themselves an 'audio only' break, suggest Stanford experts.

However, this may not be practical for many users, who prefer to monitor their appearance during meetings.

"Beyond disturbing workplace interactions and productivity, such negative experiences can create psychological barriers to adopting VM technologies, contributing to technology inequity in the workplace," the team writes.