Aspects of telework associated with mental distress among labor court workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The abrupt imposition of teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges that negatively affected the mental health of workers.

Objectives: To identify aspects of telework and individual characteristics associated with mental distress among Brazilian labor court staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,028 workers. Independent variables were assessed using a sociodemographic and occupational questionnaire and a Likert scale instrument to measure participant perceptions about telework. Mental distress was assessed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. The relationship between variables was assessed with Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. The association between the independent variables and the outcome was analyzed through logistic regression.

Results: Mental distress was identified in 37.3% of the participants. The variables associated with the outcome were: women, not living with a partner, living with a care-dependent person, agreeing that telework has led to increased family conflict and loneliness. Mental distress was also associated with neutrality or agreement with statements on: difficulty with self-discipline, difficulty disconnecting from work, and feelings of guilt.

Conclusions: The characteristics of individual workers and of telework are potential contributing factors to mental distress among teleworkers, indicating the relevance of preventive initiatives for this population.