Examining associations between remote work and anxiety and depression: a longitudinal survey study in Israel

Abstract

Introduction Accumulating evidence points at increases in mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been attributed, among other things, to social distancing policies, such as the shift to remote work from home (henceforth: remote work). The current study examines whether changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in working environments from on-site to remote work (or vice versa) are associated with changes in anxiety and depressive symptoms among Israeli employees with different demographic characteristics.Methods We administered three consecutive online surveys between January and November 2021 among 2389 Israelis who work. We conducted panel regression models with individual fixed effects using anxiety and depressive symptoms as outcomes and remote work as exposure, while accounting for sociodemographic variables. We repeated this analysis among subgroups defined by demographic characteristics.Results Symptoms of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) decreased from 4.27 and 5.98 in January to 3.35 and 4.57 in November 2021, respectively. Increased risk for anxiety and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with remote work. These associations were significant among non-partnered adults and among adults with no children, but not among partnered adults and those with children. Remote work was significantly associated with anxiety among men and with depression among women.Conclusions Remote work is associated with anxiety and depression and these associations vary across different sociodemographic groups.