Date of Graduation
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Human Environmental Science (MS)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
General Human Environmental Sciences
Advisor/Mentor
Johnston, Nicholas
Committee Member
Way, Kelly, A.
Second Committee Member
Terrell, Amanda
Keywords
Doomscrolling; emotional well-being; FOMO; job satisfaction; smartphone usage; social comparison
Abstract
This study examined the impact of smartphone usage on the job outcomes (job satisfaction and performance) of employees, specifically focused on the hospitality industry, where employees’ income and performance heavily rely on emotional labor. The research was aimed to distinguish between negative smartphone activities (e.g., doomscrolling, social comparison) and positive activities (e.g., listening to calming music, engaging in stimulating games) to determine how these behaviors affect employees. Using the Stimulus, Organism, Response Cognitive Theory (SOR), the study examined if positive smartphone usage enhances well-being and job outcomes, while negative usage diminishes them. The results revealed that smartphone usage does not affect how psychological well-being impacts job performance and satisfaction. The literature and findings in this research help provide insights for further discovery and research in managing employees’ stress and enhancing workplace satisfaction and performance, for those with the intention of raising retention rates in the industry that faces the highest amount of turnover.
Citation
Taves, K. A. (2025). Impact of Smartphone Usage on the Performance and Satisfaction of Hospitality Employees. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/5757
