Telework and Employee Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Two-Wave Survey of Employees at a Texas Health
Aro Choi1, David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras1, Monica Guidry2
1The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Introduction:
In the United States (U.S.), the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the incorporation of telework at academic institutions, but its effect on employee well-being has been insufficiently studied. This study aimed to identify telework-related risk factors and assesses their associations with employee well-being during the pandemic.
Methods:
This repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted at a large U.S. based health sciences university in two waves: the first wave survey was conducted in May 2020 (n=1,648) and the second wave survey in October 2020 (n=932). Survey-weighted logistic regressions were used to estimate the associations of telework-related risk factors with poor well-being, measured by the 5-item World Health Organization (WHO) Well-Being Index.
Results:
Loneliness and personal health and safety concerns were associated with poor well-being in both waves. The effect of loneliness on poor well-being was amplified when employees needed support, indicating an interaction. Faculty were less likely to have poor well-being than staff personnel in the second wave.
Conclusions:
Telework may have advantages, but adverse effects are common. Employment policies should address the telework-related risk factors to improve employee well-being for future public health pandemics.
More Related Videos
10:45A Community-based Stress Management Program: Using Wearable Devices to Assess Whole Body Physiological Responses in Non-laboratory Settings
Published on: January 22, 2018
09:55Bridging the Technology Divide in the COVID-19 Era: Using Virtual Outreach to Expose Middle and High School Students to Imaging Technology
Published on: September 28, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Surveys
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Current Trends in Nursing II
Survey Safety
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I
Conscientiousness
Conscientious individuals tend to be organized, responsible, and disciplined. They prioritize completing tasks and following structured routines,...
