Remote work and mental health: a study on over-50s shows unequal impact during the pandemic
16.04.2025
During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work allowed many people to continue working safely. However, according to a new study, working from home had a significant impact on the mental health of certain groups, particularly women, single individuals, and parents with cohabiting children.
The research, published in the by economists from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, University of Padua, and the IFO Institute in Munich, analyzes how remote work affected the psychological well-being of senior workers in the early months of the pandemic. Comparing those who worked from home with those who continued to work in person, the research team found a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms among remote workers.
"This negative effect was more pronounced in regions where the infection rate was relatively contained and where restrictive measures were very stringent," explains Giacomo Pasini, professor of Econometrics and director of the Department of Economics at Ca’ Foscari. "The sense of isolation, uncertainties about the future of work, and family tensions may have contributed to this distress."
The study also highlights that the effects of remote work were not the same for everyone. Women, single individuals, and people with cohabiting children exhibited a more significant psychological impact compared to other groups.
To investigate these phenomena, researchers used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), which collects information on individuals over 50 years old in 27 European countries. The analysis employed advanced statistical methods to isolate the specific effect of remote work from other pandemic-related factors.
"Thanks to this approach, we were able to reliably estimate the impact of remote work on depressive symptoms, taking into account both individual characteristics and the varying intensity of the pandemic and restrictive measures across different regions," explains Marco Bertoni, professor of Economics at the University of Padua and co-author of the study.
With the spread of hybrid and remote work models even in the post-pandemic period, the study's findings raise important considerations for the design of corporate policies.
"If remote work remains a common practice, it is crucial to recognize that not everyone experiences it in the same way," researchers emphasize. "Imposing rigid limits or uniform rules for all on remote workdays risks overlooking the real needs of individuals."
Instead, the study suggests the need for flexible policies that can adapt to the diverse family and demographic conditions of workers.
The results contribute to the debate on how to make remote work sustainable, productive, and mindful of individuals, without neglecting their psychological well-being.
