JOEM: Working from Home, Work-Life Balance (February 2023)-JOEM: Working from Home, Work-Life Balance (February 2023)

JOEM: Working from Home, Work-Life Balance (February 2023)

Pdf Summary

This study aimed to investigate the association between working from home (WFH), depression/anxiety, and work-family conflict (WFC) among Korean workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted with a total of 1074 workers, and depression and anxiety were measured using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The results showed that the WFH group had higher depression and anxiety scores than the daily commuting group. As WFC increased, the depression and anxiety scores also increased. A possible mediating effect of WFC on the relationship between WFH and high depression and anxiety scores was found. The findings suggest that WFH is significantly associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms among Korean workers, and WFC could be a mediating factor between these associations. The study highlights the need for programs and support for WFC and the mental health of WFH workers, especially for young, child-growing, and precarious workers.

Keywords

working from home

depression

anxiety

work-family conflict

Korean workers

COVID-19 pandemic

survey

mediating effect

mental health

support