From Gains to Strains: Modeling Developer Burnout with GenAI Adoption
Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly reshaping software development workflows. While prior studies emphasize productivity gains, the adoption of GenAI also introduces new pressures that may harm developers’ well-being. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between the adoption of GenAI and developers’ burnout. We utilized the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) model as the analytic lens in our empirical study. We employed a concurrent embedded mixed-methods research design, integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence. We first surveyed 442 developers across diverse organizations, roles, and levels of experience. We then employed Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and regression to model the relationships among job demands, job resources, and burnout, complemented by a qualitative analysis of open-ended responses to contextualize the quantitative findings. Our results show that GenAI adoption heightens burnout by increasing job demands, while job resources and positive perceptions of GenAI mitigate these effects, reframing adoption as an opportunity.
Thu 16 AprDisplayed time zone: Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil change
14:00 - 15:30 | Human and Social Aspects 7SE in Society (SEIS) at Oceania V Chair(s): Kelly Blincoe University of Auckland | ||
14:00 15mTalk | Invisible Load: Uncovering the Challenges of Neurodivergent Women in Software Engineering SE in Society (SEIS) munazza zaib , Wei Wang Institute of Software at Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dulaji Hidellaarachchi RMIT University, Isma Farah Siddiqui Department of Software, Systems and Cybersecurity, Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, VIC, Australia Pre-print | ||
14:15 15mTalk | From Gains to Strains: Modeling Developer Burnout with GenAI Adoption SE in Society (SEIS) Zixuan Feng Oregon State University, USA, Sadia Afroz Oregon State University, Anita Sarma Oregon State University Pre-print | ||
14:30 15mTalk | Demystifying Knowledge Hiding in Software Testing: Insights from Practitioners SE in Society (SEIS) Mary Sánchez-Gordón Østfold University College, Ricardo Colomo-Palacios Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Kiev Gama Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Aliaksandr Hubin Østfold University College | ||
14:45 15mTalk | Click, Scroll, Consent: Uncovering Australia’s Privacy Knowledge Crisis SE in Society (SEIS) Omar Haggag Monash University, Australia, John Grundy Monash University, Mohan Baruwal Chhetri CSIRO’s Data61 Pre-print | ||
15:00 15mTalk | From Inclusion to Action: The Role of Allyship for Women in Software Teams SE in Society (SEIS) Ricarda Anna-Lena Fischer Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ioana Visescu University of Luxembourg, Kezia Devathasan University of Victoria, Daniela Damian University of Victoria, Emitzá Guzmán Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | ||
15:15 15mTalk | Connecting Generations Through Code: GABI, A Community-Driven Framework for Engineering Inclusive Financial Software for the ElderlyDistinguished Paper Award SE in Society (SEIS) Lara Gabrielly Souza Batista Lima University of São Paulo (ICMC/USP), São Carlos - SP, Victor Alves University of São Paulo - USP, Carla Bezerra Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Diana Braga Federal University of Ceará (UFC) | ||