Linking Technostress to Malaysian Public Servants’ Well-being: A Moderated Model

Abstract

Employee well-being has become a strategic imperative in the digital era, particularly within the public sector, where technological demand and the need for human resources increasingly converge. However, emerging evidence indicates that Malaysian public servants are experiencing a lack of significant change in well-being. In addition, as Malaysia's ongoing digital transformation has significantly enhanced public sector efficiency, and as technology adoption advances, it also brings new challenges that may impact employee well-being. Challenges associated with digital transformation, such as technostress, are significant variables influencing employee well-being in the Malaysian public sector, particularly during ongoing digitalisation initiatives. This conceptual paper proposes a framework that links technostress to employee well-being, with technology self-efficacy serving as a personal resource that moderates this relationship by potentially buffering the harmful effects of technostress on well-being through enhanced employee confidence in managing technological demands. The conceptual model contributes to existing literature by integrating both technological and psychological aspects of employee experience, addressing a critical gap in public sector human resource management. The authors believe this is the first study of its kind to integrate technology self-efficacy in a moderated model involving the Malaysian public sector. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and organisational leaders who aim to cultivate sustainable and resilient public service environments in Malaysia.