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Vacchiano M, Fernandez G, Schmutz R. What's going on with teleworking? a scoping review of its effects on well-being. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305567. [PMID: 39159254 PMCID: PMC11332997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies of teleworking and well-being increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to provide an overview of this emerging body of knowledge. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we performed a scoping review using Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Science), Sociological Abstracts (PROQUEST), and SocINDEX with full text (EBSCOhost). Articles published in English up to December 2022 were included. The result was a total of 2695 potentially relevant studies. After a double-screening procedure, 132 studies were chosen for data extraction. A content analysis was carried out to provide a summary of the social mechanisms linking teleworking to indicators of well-being related to mental health and quality of life. A complex picture of variables emerges on the impact of teleworking through direct or indirect mechanisms and a number of interactions with worker's characteristics. First, the features of the environment matter, as it affects well-being, for example, depending on a better digital infrastructure, access to daylight and sufficient space. Second, it is not only a question of "where" we telework, but also "how much". The advantages of a hybrid mode seem to be emerging to avoid an excessive lack of in-person social interaction, while offering greater flexibility in organizing daily life and reducing commuting times. Third, beyond the modalities of teleworking per se, it is key to take into account how these interact with workers' personalities, their choices and preferences, which are often dictated by the stage of life they are in, e.g., parenting and career stages. In sum, the literature suggests that a straight answer on the positive or negative effects of teleworking is neither useful nor necessary. Multiple answers are possible to unveil the specific working arrangements that makes workers' lives better according to their different needs. It seems essential to continue research on teleworking away from the exceptional stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have greatly skewed the evidence on the detrimental effects of teleworking. Planning more complex research designs using longitudinal data and network analyses could improve understanding of how teleworking is changing careers, lifestyles and social relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Vacchiano
- Department of Sociology, University of Geneva, Ginevra, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research LIVES, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Guillaume Fernandez
- Department of Sociology, University of Geneva, Ginevra, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research LIVES, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rita Schmutz
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research LIVES, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Steidtmann D, McBride S, Mishkind M, Shore J. Examining Burnout and Perspective on Videoconferencing in the Mental Health Workforce. Telemed J E Health 2024; 30:1892-1895. [PMID: 38588556 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2024.0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: To examine burnout and perspectives on videoconferencing over time for the mental health workforce. Methods: Members of an academic psychiatry department completed two anonymous surveys about virtual work and burnout 18 months apart (T1n = 274, response rate = 66.8%; T2n = 227, response rate = 36.7%). A subset completed the burnout subscale of the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index (T1n = 145; T2n = 127). Results: Respondents were well satisfied with videoconferencing at both time points and satisfaction was higher at T2. Videoconferencing was not perceived to contribute to feelings of fatigue at either time point and burnout levels decreased from T1 to T2. Conclusions: Videoconferencing is well received by the mental health workforce and is not widely perceived to contribute to feelings of fatigue. Longer use of videoconferencing coincided with decreased levels of burnout. There are likely benefits to virtual work for the mental health workforce and virtual work may be protective from burnout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Steidtmann
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Brain and Behavior Innovation Center, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Samantha McBride
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Matthew Mishkind
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Brain and Behavior Innovation Center, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jay Shore
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Brain and Behavior Innovation Center, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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Galliker S, Igic I, Semmer NK, Elfering A. Stress at Work and Well-being Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A 1-Year Longitudinal Study in Switzerland. J Occup Environ Med 2024; 66:56-70. [PMID: 37853654 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to analyze the development of conditions at work and health-related variables (notably exhaustion) in Switzerland longitudinally before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Questionnaire data were collected from a population-based sample of 1,553 employees in February 2020 and 1 year later. Health and well-being associated with ( a ) working conditions in general and ( b ) COVID-19-specific predictors such as worries about being infected and conditions for working at home were analyzed using analysis of (co)variance and multiple regression. RESULTS Conditions at work and well-being were stable overall, even indicating slight improvements, notably for men compared with women. Both an index representing stressors and resources at work in general (Job Stress Index) and a COVID-19-related demand index showed consistent effects on health and the effect of COVID-19-related demands was stronger if the Job Stress Index deteriorated than when it improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibylle Galliker
- From the Institute of Psychology, Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Bern, Switzerland (S.G., I.I., N.K.S., A.E.); Leadership and Communication Study, Military Academy, ETH Zurich, Switzerland (I.I.); and National Centre of Competence in Research, Affective Sciences, CISA, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland (N.K.S., A.E.)
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Bryan BT, Andrews G, Thompson KN, Qualter P, Matthews T, Arseneault L. Loneliness in the workplace: a mixed-method systematic review and meta-analysis. Occup Med (Lond) 2023; 73:557-567. [PMID: 38285544 PMCID: PMC10824263 DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqad138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness is a risk factor for a range of mental and physical health problems and has gained increasing interest from policy-makers and researchers in recent years. However, little attention has been paid to loneliness at work and its implications for workers and employers. AIMS Identify workplace, health and personal factors associated with workplace loneliness. METHODS We searched five databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and EBSCO Business Source Complete) for relevant articles published from 1 January 2000 to 23 February 2023. Quantitative data were synthesized using narrative synthesis and random-effects meta-analysis of correlation coefficients. Qualitative data were synthesized using thematic synthesis. Evidence quality was appraised using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS We identified 49 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Pooled results indicate that workplace loneliness was associated with lower job performance (r = -0.35, 95% CI -0.49, -0.21), reduced job satisfaction (r = -0.34, 95% CI -0.44, -0.24), worse worker-manager relationship (r = -0.31, 95% CI -0.38, -0.24) and elevated burnout (r = 0.39, 95% CI 0.25, 0.51). Qualitative results suggest links between loneliness and inadequate workplace social interactions and mental health problems. As most studies used cross-sectional data and few adjusted for potential confounders, the direction and robustness of the associations remain untested. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that loneliness is associated with poor occupational functioning and well-being among workers. Results also show that loneliness is associated with modifiable aspects of the work environment, suggesting that the workplace may offer a fruitful avenue for interventions targeting loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- B T Bryan
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - G Andrews
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - K N Thompson
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - P Qualter
- Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - T Matthews
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, London, UK
| | - L Arseneault
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
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Sokół-Szawłowska M. Change in the form of work of psychologists after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, and the subjective mental state of this professional group. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS 2023; 29:1552-1557. [PMID: 37661633 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2023.2254600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Objectives. The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland in spring 2020 forced psychologists to fight the psychological consequences, which were triggered by drastic life changes among the entire population. This group of professionals had an incredibly difficult role to play in society; the level of their overload in studies was even compared to doctors treating COVID-19. This article aims to analyze the situation of both personal and professional psychologists in the first wave of the pandemic. Methods. During the study, 341 psychologists were surveyed using the snowball method (hybrid access). Data were collected between 12 March and 3 May 2020. The study is part of a large project from all waves of the pandemic. Results. In total, 82.7% of psychologists experienced moderate to high-intensity stress, and 61.29% switched to a remote or hybrid mode of working with patients. Subjectively depressed mood occurred in 16.13%, reduced drive in 27.57% and dyssomnia in 18.77%. A total of 61.58% had concerns about their professional and/or financial future after the pandemic. Conclusion. The challenges during, as well as after, the pandemic period require taking care of individual mental well-being for psychologists. This is a necessary condition for undertaking a committed job.
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Worker’s Satisfaction and Intention toward Working from Home—Foreign Non-EU Citizens vs. National Workers’ Approach: Case Study of Central European Countries (Visegrád Group (V4)). ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/admsci13030088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 lockdown has brought about many sudden changes in the social and work environment, causing organizations and businesses to change work conditions to adapt to the new situation which has affected millions of workers who shifted to telework. The teleworkers’ variations in gender, age, residency situation, status as national or foreign employees, and many other aspects create differences in their response toward the telework experience. This study attempts to fill the literature gap concerning the differentiation in response between national and foreign employees’ satisfaction with the working from home experience and their future intention to work from home, with a case study of the Visegrád Group as an example from Central European countries. The study found that 84.4% of teleworkers were satisfied with working from home, but no significant difference was found between national and foreign teleworkers in their satisfaction with the telework experience; this satisfaction mainly derives from allocating the gained time to social–personal activities. A surprising result presented by this research is that, in spite of the fact that foreign non-EU-citizen workers were satisfied with the teleworking experience, they do not tend to work from home due to fears of losing their jobs and residence permits, whereas national teleworkers have the intention to work from home if given the opportunity. Another important addition of this study is the development of a new scale specifically for measuring employee satisfaction with working from home instead of using traditional job satisfaction scales.
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Zhang W, Sun H, Gelfand A, Sawatzky R, Pearce A, Anis AH, Prescott K, Lee C. Working From Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Association With Work Productivity Loss Among Patients and Caregivers. J Occup Environ Med 2022; 64:e677-e684. [PMID: 35941740 PMCID: PMC9640258 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to measure the association of working from home (WFH) with work productivity loss due to caregiving responsibilities or health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We conducted an online survey of family/friend caregivers (n = 150 WFH/75 non-WFH) and patients (n = 95/91) who worked during the past 7 days in May and July 2020, respectively. Absenteeism and presenteeism were measured using the Valuation of Lost Productivity questionnaire. RESULTS Working from home was associated with higher odds of absenteeism (odds ratio, 2.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.11 to 5.77) and presenteeism (2.79; 1.26 to 6.18) among caregivers and higher odds of presenteeism among patients (2.78; 1.13 to 6.84). However, among caregivers with absenteeism more than 0 days, WFH was significantly associated with fewer absent workdays. CONCLUSIONS Working from home was not associated with overall absenteeism and presenteeism in caregivers or patients. Working from home allows a more flexible and inclusive workplace without impacting productivity, although further research is needed.
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Shirmohammadi M, Chan Au W, Beigi M. Antecedents and Outcomes of Work-Life Balance While Working from Home: A Review of the Research Conducted During the COVID-19 Pandemic. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 2022. [PMCID: PMC9535461 DOI: 10.1177/15344843221125834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We present a systematic review of 48 studies conducted between March 2020 and March 2022 that examined work-life balance (WLB) among those who worked from home. We propose a conceptual framework that organizes the antecedents and outcomes of WLB based on resource loss and gain. Resource loss occurred when employees faced stressors such as perceived work intensity, workspace limitations, technostress, professional isolation, work interdependence, housework intensity, care work intensity, and emotional demands. Resource gain was likely when employees were supported by resources such as work supervisors and family members, received job autonomy, and were personally adaptable. Our findings have resonance for remote work contexts beyond the pandemic by seeking patterns across the literature that examined WLB while working from home. We contextualize antecedents and outcomes of WLB and suggest stressors and resources that impact WLB are dynamically related. Our review informs HRD practitioners as they manage the post-pandemic remote work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melika Shirmohammadi
- Human Development and Consumer Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wee Chan Au
- Newcastle University Business School, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Mina Beigi
- Southampton Business School, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Out of Sight, Out of Mind? A Longitudinal Investigation of Smart Working and Burnout in the Context of the Job Demands–Resources Model during the COVID-19 Pandemic. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14127121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The academic interest in smart working, a form of flexible work characterized by the use of technology to conduct one’s work, has dramatically increased over recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on the job demands–resources (JD-R) model, in this study we investigate whether smart working affects the longitudinal association between perceived work characteristics, such as workload and social support (SS), and workers’ health and well-being, in terms of exhaustion. Overall, 185 workers completed a self-report questionnaire at two time points (four-month time-lag) during the COVID-19 outbreak. The results from moderated multiple regression analysis partially support our predictions. The longitudinal association between workload and exhaustion was positive—although marginally significant—for smart workers, but nonsignificant for in-person workers. Contrarily, the longitudinal association between SS and exhaustion was negative for in-person workers, but nonsignificant for smart workers. Overall, this study suggests that, to support employees’ health and productivity, work characteristics—both physical and psychosocial—should fit the new way of working as well as remote workers’ specific needs and expectations. Hence, to promote sustainable work, interventions should be aimed at helping smart workers to manage their workload effectively, as well as reducing professional and social isolation.
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