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WFH Boosts Women's Mental Health More Than Men's
3 Dec
Summary
- Working from home significantly improves women's mental health.
- Hybrid work arrangements offer greatest mental health benefits.
- Commuting stress negatively impacts men with existing mental health issues.
New research analyzing two decades of Australian worker data reveals that working from home positively impacts mental health, with notably greater benefits for women compared to men. The study, which excluded pandemic years to isolate work arrangement effects, meticulously tracked over 16,000 individuals.
Hybrid work models, where employees spend one to two days per week in the office, proved most beneficial for women's mental well-being, offering gains comparable to a substantial income increase. These advantages extended beyond saved commute time, likely stemming from reduced work stress and better work-life integration.
For men, especially those with pre-existing mental health challenges, longer commutes were associated with diminished well-being, though the effect was moderate. While men working from home showed no statistically significant mental health changes, the findings underscore the importance of flexible arrangements tailored to individual needs.
