On the Duality of Stress in Information Systems Research - The Case of Electric Vehicles

Previous research in the area of information systems (IS), stress, and behavior has emphasized either stress resulting from an inability to cope with information and communication technologies or the potential value of IS to reduce stress in certain situations. In this paper, we merge both approaches: we propose that there is a duality in the effect of IS on stress perceptions, particularly, the use of IS may lead to increased stress while at the same time, may be useful for overcoming stressful situations. Additionally, we explore the impact of both directions of effect on the attitude to perform a specific behavior. We designed a mental simulation experiment, using the example of range stress in electric vehicles. Drawing on a sample of 341 participants, our results support the existence of a dual effect of IS on stress perception and demonstrate that both effects have a contrary influence on the attitude construct.