Working from home positively impacts mental health, especially for women following hybrid work models, reveals a 20-year Australian study of over 16,000 workers. Men’s mental health is more sensitive to commute times.
Researchers analyzed 20 years of data from Australia’s Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. They excluded data from 2020-21 to remove pandemic-related distortions. The study focused on long-term effects of commuting and working-from-home patterns on mental health.
The researchers controlled for major life events like job changes or new children to isolate commuting and work-from-home effects accurately. They also examined differences between workers with good and poor mental health.
Commuting Effects Differ by Gender
For women, commuting time showed no significant effect on mental health. However, men with already poor mental health experienced a notable decline with longer commutes—about the impact of a 2% reduction in household income for adding 30 minutes one way.
Thus, reducing commute time may particularly help men vulnerable to mental health stresses. Women’s mental health appears more resilient to commuting demands statistically.
Hybrid Work Best for Women’s Wellbeing
Women working mostly from home while spending 1-2 days weekly onsite reported the greatest mental health improvements. Among women with poor mental health, the boost matched a 15% household income rise.
This hybrid arrangement’s benefits extend beyond saved commuting time. Reduced work stress and increased ability to balance family responsibilities also contributed strongly.
Light or full-time working from home showed less clear effects for women, potentially due to fewer women working fully remotely.
Working From Home’s Neutral Effect on Men’s Mental Health
The study found no statistically clear mental health benefits or detriments for men working from home, regardless of how many days they did so. This may reflect men’s social networks being more tied to the workplace and household task divisions by gender in Australia.
Key Takeaways: Who Benefits Most?
Workers with poorer mental health are more sensitive to commuting burdens and gain more from working-from-home setups. Women in particular gain profound benefits from hybrid work models, while men’s mental health improves mainly through shorter commutes.
Those with stronger mental health show less sensitivity to work arrangements but may still appreciate flexibility.
Recommendations for Employees, Employers, and Policymakers
Employees: Track how commuting and work-from-home impact your mental health. Plan demanding tasks for environments where you feel comfortable.
Employers: Provide flexible hybrid work options, especially to employees facing mental health challenges. Avoid rigid return-to-office mandates.
Policy Makers: Invest in reducing traffic congestion and improving public transport. Promote policies supporting flexible work and mental health access.
Q&A on Working from Home and Mental Health
Q: How many days working from home benefit mental health most?
A: For women, hybrid arrangements with one to two days onsite weekly bring the greatest benefits.
Q: Does commuting affect men and women differently?
A: Yes, longer commutes negatively affect men’s mental health when already strained, but not women’s.
Q: Why might men not benefit from working from home?
A: Men’s social networks are often more work-based, possibly reducing remote work benefits.
Q: Can full-time working from home harm mental health?
A: The study found inconclusive effects for both genders, suggesting individual variation.
Q: What broader implications does this study have for workplaces?
A: Employers should adopt hybrid and flexible models tailored to employee needs, especially for mental health support.
