Informação, tecnologias e ansiedade de informação digital

Abstract

In the society of fatigue and performance, individuals are immersed in increasingly complex digital ecosystems. This context gives rise to new forms of interaction, access, sharing, and appropriation of information, intensifying experiences associated with Information Anxiety. In light of this scenario, it becomes necessary to deepen the theoretical understanding of the concept and to update it so as to encompass the ongoing social and technological transformations. This study aimed to propose an updated conceptual framework for Information Anxiety and to develop an assessment instrument tailored to the digital context. The research was based on the quadripolar method, employing a qualitative approach. Through a critical analysis of the literature and of validated international psychometric instruments, core conceptual elements related to anxiety toward digital information were identified. This analysis enabled the formulation of an updated concept and the proposition of a conceptual structure composed of seven dimensions: Informational Insecurity, Digital Cognitive Overload, Technological Barriers, Social Self-Perception, Fear of Failure, Informational Fatigue, and Social Implications. Based on this model, the Digital Information Anxiety Instrument (AID) was developed, structured as a Likert-type scale and grounded in preliminary psychometric criteria. Although not yet empirically validated, the instrument represents a conceptual and methodological advancement in the field of Information Science by providing a systematic proposal for measuring informational anxiety in digital environments. The theoretical results demonstrate the internal consistency of the construct and the potential applicability of the model in educational, corporate, and clinical contexts, paving the way for future psychometric validation studies and interdisciplinary applications.