Consolidation and integration of information overload and communication overload – A theory-based derivation of distinct measurement models and scale development

Information overload and communication overload can be found in numerous publications and are considered central stressors in view of the rapid development and increasing use of information and communication technology. Both concepts are often used interchangeably and show an insufficient construct conceptualization. In many studies, this leads to a misspecification of measurement. We argue that information and communication overload can occur independently and require different organizational measures to counteract, necessitating a valid scale of measurement. Therefore, this preregistered study has the goal of delineating both constructs across theory and empirical evidence and making them more accessible for further research. First, a theory-based differentiation and precise definition of the constructs are established. Second, both theoretical measurement models are transferred to scale development ( N stud = 46) and tested within two distinct samples ( N exp = 105, N conf = 288) from the professional context. Results support the theoretical assumptions that information and communication overload are two separate constructs that share common variance but may be determined by distinct processes. This study contributes to a uniform definition and clarification of the concepts of information overload and communication overload and offers two derived scales. This clear differentiation of the concepts helps to derive more targeted and effective measures for organizations and stress prevention. • Theoretical derivation of the key determinants of information overload and communication overload. • Conceptual derivation of measurement models for information overload and communication overload. • Rigorous scale development process. • Two distinct scales to measure information overload and communication overload. • Integration and discussion of existing theoretical models of information overload and communication overload.