Exploring the Characteristics and Health Outcomes of Working from Home: Analysis of 2021 California Health Interview Survey Data (American Journal of Industrial Medicine)
Summary: Working from home (WFH) may affect health behaviors and mental health. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic saw many U.S. employees transition to WFH, which has persisted in various job sectors and significantly impacted employees. However, its effects on health outcomes have remained unclear. Authors aimed to explore the characteristics and health outcomes of, and health-related differences between, WFH and not-WFH groups.
Using the 2021 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data, authors analyzed health behaviors (smoking, alcohol consumption, and fruit-related nutrition) and the mental health status of 12,438 individuals.
Findings: A total of 39% were WFH and 61% were not-WFH. Overall, the WFH group had worse health behaviors and mental health than the not-WFH group. Age was associated with smoking in both groups, but with fruit-related nutrition only in the WFH group. Household income and occupation were associated with alcohol consumption in both groups. Age, household income, and job duration were associated with mental health in both groups; those who were younger and had lower household incomes and job durations had worse mental health.
Health management is a clear necessity for the WFH group. Irrespective of WFH status, young workers with shorter than five years' job duration reported mental distress, highlighting a need for distress assessment and management for the young workforce.
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