Business and Applied Management Journal
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026)

Burnout, Boredom, and Gen Z Productivity: The Roles of Positive Cyberloafing and Digital Mindfulness

Ni Kadek Irma Dwi Lestari (Universitas Pendidikan Nasional)
Ida Bagus Teddy Prianthara (Universitas Pendidikan Nasional)



Article Info

Publish Date
18 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study examines the effects of burnout and boredom on Gen Z employee productivity by positioning positive cyberloafing and digital mindfulness as mediating mechanisms. A quantitative explanatory design was employed to test the proposed relationships. Data were collected from 178 Generation Z employees through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings show that boredom has a negative and significant effect on productivity, while burnout does not have a significant direct effect. Positive cyberloafing and digital mindfulness have positive and significant effects on productivity. The mediation results further indicate that both positive cyberloafing and digital mindfulness significantly mediate the relationships between burnout, boredom, and productivity. These findings suggest that Gen Z productivity in digital work environments is shaped not only by psychological strain but also by employees' ability to recover and regulate their digital behavior. This study contributes to digital workplace and human resource management literature by reframing cyberloafing as a conditional adaptive mechanism and positioning digital mindfulness as a personal resource for sustaining productivity. Practically, organizations should develop digital well-being policies that support structured digital micro-breaks, mindful technology use, and more meaningful work design.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

bamj

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Economics, Econometrics & Finance Education Environmental Science Social Sciences

Description

Business and Applied Management Journal is Peer-reviewed refereed journal aiming at engaging academicians as well as practitioners. Focus on the areas of economics, finance, banking, capital markets, takaful and law. The aim of the Journal is to foster academic research by publishing original ...