Abstract:
The rapid advancement of internet technology has transformed the modern workplace,
offering numerous benefits while simultaneously introducing new challenges. One such
challenge is cyberloafing, a behaviour characterized by employees engaging in personal
intemet use during working hours. This phenomenon has become particularly relevant
in high-pressure sectors like healthcare, where consistent empioyee performance is
critical to service delivery and patient outcomes. In the context of the Batticaloa District
in Sri Lanka, where healthcare institutions face resource constraints and post-pandemic
mental health pressures, understanding the implications of cyberloafing has become
both timely and essential.
This study examines the impact of employee cyberloafing on job performance, focusing
on the mediating role of mental health among healthcare workers in Batticaloa District.
Based on the Conservation of Resources (COR) and Affective Events Theories, a
quantitative survey was conducted using structured questionnaires. Results show that
cyberloafing negatively affects both mental health and job performance, while mental
health positively influences performance. Employees who frequently engage in nonwork
internet use experience reduced focus and increased stress, which lowers their
efficiency. Mental health significantly mediates this relationship, indicating that poor
psychological well-being intensifies the negative effects of cyberloafing on
performance. These findings suggest that addressing mental health is key to managing
cyberloafing and improving productivity.
This study highlights that mental health significantly mediates the negative impact of
cyberloafing on job performance in the healthcare sector. To improve employee
performance, healthcare institutions should address both digital behaviour and rnental
well-being. Implementing supportive mental health programs and clear internet use
policies can help manage cyberloafing and enhance overall productivity.
Keywords. Employee Cyber Loafing, Mental Health and Employee Job Performance
