Study Finds Working From Home Worsens Employees’ Mental Health
The study found remote-friendly workers spent more time alone and reported higher mental distress, with effects strongest among people living alone.
- A new study published in Science based on survey data from more than 500,000 Americans reveals remote work significantly increases isolation and worsens mental well-being, particularly for individuals living alone.
- Natalia Emanuel of the Federal Reserve Bank in New York and Harrington from the University in Virginia analyzed data spanning over a decade, excluding 2020 and 2021 to isolate remote work's true impact.
- Yale University researchers Emma Zhang, Rourke, and Brien found "the shift in work location to the home carries measurable costs at the population level," with around 25 percent of remote workers living alone spending entire days in isolation.
- Emanuel suggests organizations and individuals prioritize making remote work less isolating by coordinating in-office days for hybrid workers or encouraging informal interaction, even online, to mitigate adverse mental health effects.
- Stanford University economics professor Nicholas Bloom warns against misinterpreting the findings as a mandate to return to offices, stating "the best way to improve mental health with WFH is: let people choose.
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46 Articles
Working from home has become more common, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an Ifo economic survey, the home office share in Germany was almost 25 percent. A US study now also shows possible negative effects of remote work: social isolation and psychological stress.
Daily Journal
Study finds working from home worsens employees’ mental health
Experts say remote work has substantially increased time spent alone and worsened workers’ mental well-being.
Study links remote work to increased isolation and depression
The rise in remote work caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially increased time spent alone and worsened workers' mental health, according to a new study based on survey data from more than 500,000 Americans.
For many, working at home is a daily routine. A new study from the United States now shows that this can lead to loneliness and mental stress. It becomes clear that a particular group is particularly affected.
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