TITLE:
Impact of Remote Work Dynamics on Mental Health and Productivity
AUTHORS:
Joy Jibunoh, Ogbonnaya Ezichi, Victor Okpanachi, Chibuzor Amaechi, Wuraola Awosan, Prosper Tchoumo, Jubril Sanusi
KEYWORDS:
Remote Work, Mental Health, Productivity, Depression, Work Life Balance and Satisfaction
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Depression,
Vol.14 No.1,
January
20,
2025
ABSTRACT: Remote working has grown significantly over the past few decades, driven by advancements in information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the widespread availability of high-speed internet. This study investigates remote work dynamics by analyzing its impacts on mental health, productivity, and the relationships between gender, industry, region, and remote work satisfaction using a dataset of 5000 individuals. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, ANOVA test, binomial test, and logistic regression, reveal significant findings. Logistic regression identifies workplace location as a significant predictor of remote work satisfaction. Industry, years of experience and regional disparities in openness to remote work and work-life balance were statistically insignificant. The manufacturing sector of the industry showed the highest remote work adoption (37.8%), and regions like Asia and Europe reported slightly better work-life integration (41.3% and 41.1%, respectively). Notably, approximately 75% of employees across all demographics reported mental health challenges, highlighting the universal impact of remote work on well-being. These findings emphasize the need for tailored, evidence-based strategies to optimize remote and hybrid work environments, ensuring sustainable productivity and equitable employee support.