Remote work has reshaped the way millions live around the world since the COVID-19 pandemic, granting employees greater flexibility and reducing commuting time. But a recent American study revealed that this pattern may have unexpected effects on mental health over time, particularly due to decreased social interaction and increased feelings of loneliness among some groups.

After the pandemic, several studies showed that remote work enhances job satisfaction and possibly improves performance, especially in the short term, but a new study published in the journal Science revealed that its long-term effects on mental health may be negative.

The study compared people who work in jobs that can be done remotely, such as computer-based jobs, and those who work in jobs that require in-person attendance, such as restaurant workers or professions that rely on direct communication.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 500,000 Americans and found that the aspect most affected by remote work was social interaction.

Remote work increases the time people spend alone

Humans are social beings by nature, and while going out and talking to others was normal and routine before the pandemic, a shift occurred after the spread of COVID-19, as remote workers now spend, on average, an extra hour per day alone compared to those in non-remote jobs.

The study observed a decline in mental health over time, as indicators of psychological distress increased among remote workers, and levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness rose compared to people who work in jobs requiring presence at the workplace.

But the study revealed a different side of the picture.

Living with family mitigates the negative effects of remote work

People who lived with their families did not record an increase in levels of psychological distress when working remotely, nor was a significant increase observed in the time they spent alone.

In contrast, people living alone experienced a clear change in the proportion of time they spend alone, in addition to higher levels of psychological distress, and this effect persisted even after the pandemic phase ended.

The results also showed that people who recently transitioned to remote work did not suffer from increased psychological distress or isolation, indicating that the problem may not be a short-term result of remote work, but the effect appears over time.

In-person work may be more beneficial for some people

Researchers believe that people who live with their families may benefit from remote work because it gives them more time to spend with family members instead of isolation.

As for people living alone, in-person work may be more beneficial for them because it provides greater opportunities for social interaction.

But there is another aspect related to certain categories of employees. A report prepared by the Neurobridge Foundation indicated that some employees with neurodiversity, such as those with autism or ADHD, consider return-to-office policies among the top sources of workplace stress.

These people may not benefit from direct social interaction in the workplace to the same extent; rather, this interaction may become a source of stress instead of a supportive factor.

Different results depending on employee circumstances and cultures

These results indicate that the impact of remote work may vary among individuals and their circumstances, and that a hybrid work model may be a more balanced option for some groups.

Another study involving 1,600 Chinese employees showed that work flexibility and a hybrid work system improved job satisfaction, performance, and even mental health, especially for people facing long commutes to workplaces, as well as for women.

Need for more studies on the future of work

These results reinforce the findings of the new American study, as living conditions appear to play a direct role in determining the long-term impact of remote work.

But researchers emphasize the need for more studies to determine whether these results apply to all population groups and different countries, as the nature of in-person work may differ between the United States and other countries such as Spain or Japan.

Additionally, the way cities are organized and transportation methods can affect the results. In the United States, many rely on cars for commuting, while cities like Paris rely on subways and trains. Moreover, walkability in cities may provide greater opportunities for social interaction outside the workplace.

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