Impact of Teleworking on Work-Related and Home-Related Stress at During the First Global Lockdown–The International COVISTRESS Study

Background

The initial lockdown during the pandemic of COVID-19 led to adjustments in working conditions, including extensive use of telecommuting whenever possible, putatively influencing both work-related and home-related stress.

Objectives

Our aim was to measure the impact of teleworking on work-related and home-related during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The international study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect demographic and stress-related data from individuals worldwide during the 2020 pandemic year. Work-related and home-related stress levels were evaluated using an uncalibrated visual analog scale, with a range from 0 (none) to 100 (maximum).

Results

A total of 13,537 individuals from 44 countries completed the survey between January and June 2020. A total of 7356 individuals were engaged in professional activities. Of these, 6639 continued to work, of which 2573 carried on as usual and 4066 teleworked. The teleworkers demonstrated a considerably (p < 0.001) lower level of work-related stress (58 ± 31.6) in comparison to those who maintained their usual work schedule (63.6 ± 31.1). However, there was no statistically significant variation in home-related stress between the two groups. The risk of high levels of work-related stress (stress > 80) was multiplied by 1.76 in women (1.54 to 2.01; p < 0.001), by 1.43 (1.27 to 1.61; p < 0.001) for those who did not telework, by 5.31 (4.57 to 6.18; p < 0.001) for those with high levels of home-related stress (stress > 80), and by 1.46 (1.22 to 1.76; p < 0.001) for those from continents outside Europe. Home-related stress is also a risk factor for work-related stress, and vice versa. Sociodemographic risk factors for higher levels of home-related stress were age < 50 years old, women, working < 50 h per week, continents outside Europe, and not teleworking were no longer risk factors.

Conclusion

Telework emerged as a viable option during the initial phase of the global pandemic. This mode of work was associated with lower levels of work-related stress compared to workers who were required to work in a conventional manner. In terms of home-related stress, telecommuters experienced more stress than those who continued to work as usual.