A wide-ranging Australian study, based on data over 20 years and including more than 16 thousand workers, revealed clear differences between men and women regarding the impact of working from home on mental health, in addition to the significant role played by daily commuting time in employee well-being.
The study results showed that working from home significantly enhances mental health for women, especially when they work from home most days of the week with only one or two days in the office.
For women with pre-existing mental difficulties, the mental improvements were significant, equating to an effect of a 15% increase in family income.
The study, cited by The Independent, indicated that these benefits are not limited to just reducing commuting time, but also extend to decreased professional stress and improved ability to balance work and family life.
Limited impact on men
Conversely, researchers found no clear positive or negative impact from working from home on men's mental health, regardless of the number of days they work from the home or the office.
However, the study found that men with pre-existing mental issues become more sensitive to the length of commuting time; an increase in daily travel by about 30 minutes leads to a slight deterioration in mental health equivalent to a 2% decrease in family income.
Commuting and mental health: notable differences between genders
The data clarified that commuting time does not practically affect women's mental health, whereas it is associated with a relative decline among men suffering from mental fragility. The study attributed this disparity to differences in social roles between the genders, and because men's social networks are often linked to the work environment itself.
The most vulnerable benefit the most
Researchers concluded that employees with poor mental health are the most affected by the burdens of long commutes and benefit the most from flexible work arrangements, especially hybrid work that balances office presence and working from home.
Employees with good mental health appear to be less sensitive to these factors, despite their clear appreciation for flexibility in the work environment.
Recommendations for employers and policymakers
For employees: Monitor the impact of commuting and working from home on mental health, and choose the most comfortable environment for accomplishing tasks.
For employers: Adopt flexible work models that consider individual differences, and steer clear of "mandatory full return" policies to the offices.
For policymakers: Support public transportation, reduce congestion, and expand policies that promote flexible work and enhance access to mental health services.
