Technostress and innovation adaptation: how job crafting enables successful aging in older employees

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the impact of technostress on successful aging at work (SAW) among older employees aged 45 years and above within the context of rapid digital innovation. Design/methodology/approach Our conducted a two-wave survey of 211 Chinese employees, using the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping as a framework for analysis. Findings Job crafting mediated the relationship between technostress and SAW. Involution perception moderates this process; a high involution perception amplifies the negative impact of technostress on job crafting and SAW. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to Chinese employees. Further research is needed in other regions, which highlights the need for innovation-friendly environments to support older employees. Practical implications Organizations should foster technical empowerment, anti-involution policies, and age-inclusive innovation practices to harness the experiential knowledge of older employees. Originality/value This study unveils how older employees' adaptive behaviors (e.g. job redesign) mitigate digital transformation risks and advances the innovation management literature.