AI-Generated Technostress: Emotions and Adjustment to AI

Scientists have new tools for assessing this contemporary neurological anxiety known as digital technostress.

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The Technostress Problem

A common topic of discussion nowadays is the rapid development of artificial intelligence. It seems there are no industries untouched by what can now be done using artificial technologies to facilitate our work or to gain insights into questions we may have. With such rapid advancements and pervasive presence, just a quick perusal of social media sites will uncover humans debating the pros and cons of the usage of artificial intelligence in their lives.

What seems clear is that some of the negative beliefs and anxiety surrounding advancements in AI are related to the technostress of becoming an obsolete worker or perceived diminished chances of earning a traditional, non-AI-integrated living. Scientists have new tools for assessing the contemporary neurological anxiety known as digital technostress (Angioletti & Fronda, 2024). We also now have research about AI-generated technostress and its potential influence on quality of life (Litan, 2025).

The Research

Litan (2025) studied technostress derived from AI usage by measuring stressors in a sample of 217 Romanian adults (ages 18–62) from urban and rural backgrounds. Technostress was measured through five stressors stemming from AI use. These were assessed as techno-overload, techno-invasion, techno-complexity, techno-insecurity, and techno-uncertainty.

The impact of these stressors was measured by examining quality of life as a main outcome of interest. Both positive and negative emotions were assessed among the participants as possible daily emotional tendencies.

Findings

Litan found that AI-related technostress didn’t directly lower people’s quality of life. AI-triggered stress affected participants’ disposition toward positive or negative emotions, and those emotional shifts then significantly determined quality of life. So, as an example, if an employee hasn’t dabbled in the use of AI tools to learn more about them, even as the employer is encouraging AI use, and as other colleagues are increasingly using AI in the workplace, this could eventually impact an employee’s quality of worklife.

To continue with this example, for an employee who goes to work each day in such a context, the setting could become psychologically linked to negative emotions. Thus, according to the research findings, emotions surrounding AI were found to be a key mediator of quality of life. The findings were that AI or tech itself doesn’t shift well‑being, but how AI makes people feel matters. Litan found that positive emotions can buffer the impact of AI generated technostress; negative emotions can worsen it.

What Can Be Done to Help

Raising digital literacy and emotion-regulation skills, especially those geared toward AI, can help protect people’s emotional health and overall quality of life (Litan, 2025). So the relief lies in how a person copes. If people are worried about job displacement or overwhelmed by AI advances, the research suggested they might want to strengthen their awareness of the emotions they feel while using or after using AI tools.

This means pausing after using AI to acknowledge and understand how the experience made them feel. Was it positive, as in excitement or enthusiasm, or was it negative and intimidating? Research suggests that technostressed persons might also become more intentional about building positivity, such as gratitude for how AI can actually benefit their to-do tasks, or might provide increased opportunities to develop AI literacy (e.g., attend trainings and workshops).

Finally, there are also opportunities to socially connect and discuss or explore the use of digital technologies. Practitioners can get involved by suggesting any of the above explorations to clients, helping them to be more self-aware of their emotions regarding AI, and addressing this with them to help them cope with AI-generated technostress.

Conclusion

The Litan study highlighted the finding that feelings matter most when navigating AI-related stress. It’s emotional reactions, and not AI itself, that shape well-being. For individuals, this means focusing on mood resilience, learning new technologies, and social support. For practitioners, it means integrating emotional, digital, and social strategies into care. By helping people handle their emotions, social engagement, and learning more about AI tools, practitioners can support clients’ healthy adaptation in an increasingly AI-driven world.