«Zoom Fatigue» in adult education: a pilot study

This paper is devoted to studying the phenomenon of fatigue and exhaustion experienced by learners using Zoom and, more broadly, video-based classes. Its scientific novelty lies in the fact that this phenomenon is examined for the first time in domestic literature. Additionally, the study presents the initial adaptation of the “Zoom Exhaustion and Fatigue Scale” and its application to a Ukrainian sample. The calculated Cronbach’s alpha values for all subscales of the adapted scale meet the requirements of mathematical statistics, confirming its reliability and suitability for further use. Based on a literature review, the main factors contributing to fatigue and exhaustion from video classes are identified as intense eye contact, high cognitive load, constant self-evaluation, and limited physical activity. The results of an empirical study conducted on Ukrainian learners from various groups indicate moderate levels of fatigue across all subscales of the “Video Classes Exhaustion Scale” (overall, visual, social, motivational, emotional). At the same time, the modal values for the visual, social, and motivational subscales corresponded to a high level of fatigue. A weak direct correlation between age and the level of visual fatigue was observed. It was also found that learners for whom studying is the primary activity reported higher levels of motivational fatigue compared to working individuals with similar online learning experience. The main difficulty of video classes was found to be associated with visual fatigue. Besides the necessity to focus on the screen displaying educational materials, learners involuntarily become exhausted due to the format of digital applications: the frontal arrangement of participants, the enforced close distance between them, involuntary self-observation and self-assessment, and the need to actively monitor their own and others’ nonverbal communication. The article also offers specific recommendations for reducing fatigue related to video classes.