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Working From Home Is Making People Lonelier and Worsening Mental Health, a Study Suggests
Key takeaways
- The convenience of working from home can come with hidden costs, according to new research.
- But the convenience of working from home may have serious mental health consequences, especially for people who live alone.
- In a study published June 4 in the journal Science, researchers analyzed data from more than half a million American workers surveyed between 2011 and 2024, excluding the peak Covid-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
The convenience of working from home can come with hidden costs, according to new research. Amr Bo Shanab via Getty Images Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, remote work has surged in popularity. In 2023, about 28 percent of American employees did their jobs remotely, compared to only 7 percent in 2019.
But the convenience of working from home may have serious mental health consequences, especially for people who live alone.
In a study published June 4 in the journal Science, researchers analyzed data from more than half a million American workers surveyed between 2011 and 2024, excluding the peak Covid-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. Their findings suggest that remote work increases isolation and worsens mental health, highlighting the hidden costs of doing a job from home.