Work Interruptions in Digital Information Work - A Scoping Review of Influencing Factors and Effects

Work interruptions are one of the most common stressors in the workplace and an increasing frequency of interruptions is, for example, associated with higher perceptions of strain and lower overall well-being. Although there is a large body of literature on the effects of work interruptions, an overview of the effects in the context of digital information work is still lacking. A systematic scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR Guideline was therefore carried out. The results show that previous research has taken a one-sided view of work interruptions, mainly analyzing the frequency of interruptions. However, different characteristics of interruptions may be associated with different effects and may even have positive effects. Given the constant presence of interruptions such as emails, text messages, calls and alerts in everyday working life, it seems unrealistic to avoid them altogether. It is therefore important to identify the characteristics of interruptions that are associated with both negative and positive effects in order to create a digital working environment that promotes productivity and reduces health risks.