The Influence of Digital Fatigue on Sleep Quality and Mental Health among Office Employees : A Moderation Mediation Analysis by Exercise Participation Type

This study aimed to examine the effects of digital fatigue on sleep quality and mental health among office workers and to empirically verify the moderated mediation effect of exercise participation type (indoor vs. outdoor) on these relationships. To this end, a survey was conducted with 246 office workers employed at major corporations and banks located in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions. Based on the analysis results, the following conclusions were drawn. First, the moderating effect of exercise participation type was found to be significant in the relationship between physical/mental fatigue and both sleep quality and mental health. Second, while the moderated mediation model showed significant results, the mediated moderation model was not statistically significant. Third, among office workers who engaged in outdoor exercise, the indirect effect of physical/mental fatigue on mental health through sleep quality was greater than that of those who participated in indoor exercise. Therefore, it can be concluded that when developing practical strategies to alleviate digital fatigue and promote mental health among office workers, it is essential to consider the environmental context in which exercise is performed.