THE EFFECT OF DIGITAL MULTITASKING HABIT AND ATTENTION FRAGMENTATION ON WORK FOCUS AMONG GENERATION Z
Keywords:
attention fragmentation, digital multitasking, Generation Z, work focus, workplace productivityAbstract
The rapid proliferation of digital technology has fundamentally reshaped how individuals interact with information and manage their daily tasks. Generation Z, defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, represents the first cohort to grow up entirely within a hyperconnected digital ecosystem. This cohort demonstrates a distinctive tendency toward digital multitasking the simultaneous engagement with multiple digital devices, platforms, or applications. While such behavior has become normalized within this generation, concerns persist regarding its impact on cognitive attention and professional work performance. This study investigates the effect of Digital Multitasking Habit (X1) and Attention Fragmentation (X2) on Work Focus (Y) among Generation Z workers. A quantitative approach was employed, with data collected from 100 Generation Z respondents through a structured online questionnaire utilizing a five-point Likert scale. Validity and reliability tests confirmed the soundness of all measurement instruments. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to test three hypotheses. The results indicate that Digital Multitasking Habit exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on Work Focus (B = 0.349; p = 0.000), suggesting that Generation Z individuals may have developed adaptive cognitive strategies that allow them to maintain focus while navigating multiple digital tasks. Attention Fragmentation demonstrated a negative but statistically insignificant effect on Work Focus (B = 0.191; p = 0.054). The simultaneous effect of both predictors on Work Focus was statistically significant (F = 6.834; p = 0.002), with the model explaining 12.5% of the variance in Work Focus. These findings contribute to emerging discussions on digital cognition among younger workers and offer practical implications for organizational management, human resource development, and workplace design strategies targeting Generation Z employees.
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