Remote work is linked to an increase in mental disorders — this is the conclusion reached by scientists 0 12

Remote work no longer surprises anyone. After the COVID-19 pandemic, this format has become a familiar part of life for millions of people around the world. Working from home allows for longer sleep, saves time on commuting, and makes it easier to combine professional duties with household chores.

However, researchers from Harvard University decided to investigate how remote employment affects mental health. Despite numerous studies dedicated to the productivity of remote employees, the issue of their emotional well-being has not been sufficiently studied.

The study involved more than 588,000 adult Americans. The scientists divided the participants into two groups: the first included people who could work remotely, while the second consisted of representatives of professions that require constant presence at the workplace, including doctors and train drivers.

The analysis showed that after the pandemic, employees working remotely began to spend about one hour more alone during each working day compared to those who continued to go to the office or production.

Additionally, remote workers experienced an increase in the number of days spent without personal communication, and the time they spent with colleagues after work noticeably decreased.

The problem particularly affected people living alone. The likelihood that such a person would spend the entire day without any communication increased by seven percentage points, reaching 83%.

According to the researchers, many remote employees are gradually minimizing live communication. Work-related issues are resolved in chats, products are delivered by couriers, and many everyday tasks are performed through apps and online services.

At the same time, specialists recorded an increase in scores on the Kessler scale (K-6), which is used to assess the level of psychological discomfort. Cases of depression and requests for professional psychological help have also become more frequent.

Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor at the School of Systems Biology at George Mason University, Ancha Baranova, notes that people living alone are particularly vulnerable. It is among them that the indicators of emotional distress have increased most noticeably.

As a result, the scientists concluded that about 30% of the increase in psychiatric disorders in the coming years may be related to the spread of remote employment and the social isolation it causes.

At the same time, researchers did not find a similar deterioration in mental health among people who previously worked remotely but then returned to regular work in the office or production. This, according to the authors, confirms the connection between emotional state and the specifics of work organization.

Experts emphasize that remote work itself is not a direct cause of mental disorders. However, a lack of live communication and prolonged social isolation can negatively affect a person's emotional state. Therefore, many experts consider a hybrid work format, which combines the advantages of remote work with regular personal contacts and social activity, to be the optimal solution.