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The popularity of video conferencing, especially through platforms like Zoom, surged dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during this time that employees from various companies adapted to working from home. However, many people have yet to return to their offices, and some have no plans to do so at all.
A new study by researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore found that video conferences still play a major role in everyday life as remote work continues. The team wanted to understand why employees often feel fatigued during video calls and how to reduce that fatigue.
How Was the Study Conducted?
The researchers surveyed 610 Singapore residents — 284 men and 326 women — ages 22 to 76. All participants reported working from home an average of three days a week for eight hours a day, according to the Daily Mail.
Participants were asked whether they used virtual backgrounds during their calls. If so, they indicated their preference for static images, blurred backgrounds, or videos.
The study found that using blurred or animated backgrounds can be tiring because they overstimulate the brain. Experts therefore recommend choosing a static image or skipping virtual backgrounds altogether.
During the study, the team measured participants’ fatigue from video conferencing using a five-point scale that captured overall, visual, social, motivational, and emotional fatigue.
The results showed that people who used video backgrounds experienced the highest levels of fatigue during video interactions. Participants with blurred backgrounds also reported more fatigue compared with those who preferred static images.
There was no substantial difference in fatigue levels between using a static image and having no virtual background at all.
What Explains This?
The researchers noted that our brains automatically respond to new information, particularly visual cues like backgrounds during video calls. Virtual backgrounds can be distracting and drain cognitive resources.
As lead author Hen Zhang pointed out, the changing frames of a video background divert attention and contribute to significant fatigue during video conferences.
“With blurred backgrounds, users may sometimes see glimpses of their real environment due to technical issues, which presents them with new information,” the researcher explained.
Real interiors visible in the background can also be linked to fatigue during video calls. Participants who worked outdoors reported lower levels of exhaustion than those working indoors. The study’s findings were published in Frontiers in Psychology.
But These Aren’t the Only Reasons for Zoom Fatigue
Other factors affect how fatigued someone feels after video conferencing. These include specific work aspects, such as deadlines and task volume, as well as the number of topics being discussed.
A 2021 study titled “Zoom Fatigue and How to Prevent It” identified several causes of exhaustion. Among these were limited mobility, excessive eye contact, and the “mirror effect” (the need to see oneself on screen).
Another study found that people who keep their cameras on during calls tend to feel fatigued right away — and that effect was stronger for women than for men.
Additionally, research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that blurred images on Zoom lead people to raise their voices. This likely happens because people subconsciously associate a fuzzy image with poor sound quality.
