Working from home and well-being during the pandemic and beyond: a longitudinal analysis in five countries

Abstract Background Given the rise of remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many studies have investigated how working from home (WFH) is related to employee well-being. So far, findings have been mixed and based predominantly on cross-sectional analyses. Methods We used multi-level regr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anna E. Kornadt, Catherine E. Bowen, Anthony Lepinteur, Conchita D’Ambrosio, Luca Ratti, Claus Vögele
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22349-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850207885921878016
author Anna E. Kornadt
Catherine E. Bowen
Anthony Lepinteur
Conchita D’Ambrosio
Luca Ratti
Claus Vögele
author_facet Anna E. Kornadt
Catherine E. Bowen
Anthony Lepinteur
Conchita D’Ambrosio
Luca Ratti
Claus Vögele
author_sort Anna E. Kornadt
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Given the rise of remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many studies have investigated how working from home (WFH) is related to employee well-being. So far, findings have been mixed and based predominantly on cross-sectional analyses. Methods We used multi-level regression models to describe the longitudinal relationship between WFH and well-being over 11 assessments from April 2020 to November 2023, based on a unique, population-based sample of N = 3403 employed participants from five European countries. Results Even after controlling for relevant covariates, WFH was negatively related to well-being in the initial stages of the pandemic, but unrelated to WFH thereafter. Conclusion Our analysis offers a differentiated picture on within- and between-person dynamics of WFH and well-being over the course of the pandemic and beyond and can inform the discussion how individuals, organizations, and societies can prepare for a future in which WFH plays a more prominent role.
format Article
id doaj-art-123bed5e8d3c4f8e9ce014aaedc0e443
institution OA Journals
issn 1471-2458
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Public Health
spelling doaj-art-123bed5e8d3c4f8e9ce014aaedc0e4432025-08-20T02:10:23ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-03-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-22349-4Working from home and well-being during the pandemic and beyond: a longitudinal analysis in five countriesAnna E. Kornadt0Catherine E. Bowen1Anthony Lepinteur2Conchita D’Ambrosio3Luca Ratti4Claus Vögele5Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of LuxembourgIndependent ResearcherDepartment of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of LuxembourgDepartment of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of LuxembourgInstitute for Advanced Studies, University of LuxembourgDepartment of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of LuxembourgAbstract Background Given the rise of remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many studies have investigated how working from home (WFH) is related to employee well-being. So far, findings have been mixed and based predominantly on cross-sectional analyses. Methods We used multi-level regression models to describe the longitudinal relationship between WFH and well-being over 11 assessments from April 2020 to November 2023, based on a unique, population-based sample of N = 3403 employed participants from five European countries. Results Even after controlling for relevant covariates, WFH was negatively related to well-being in the initial stages of the pandemic, but unrelated to WFH thereafter. Conclusion Our analysis offers a differentiated picture on within- and between-person dynamics of WFH and well-being over the course of the pandemic and beyond and can inform the discussion how individuals, organizations, and societies can prepare for a future in which WFH plays a more prominent role.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22349-4Working from homeWell-beingCOVID-19Longitudinal studiesOccupational health
spellingShingle Anna E. Kornadt
Catherine E. Bowen
Anthony Lepinteur
Conchita D’Ambrosio
Luca Ratti
Claus Vögele
Working from home and well-being during the pandemic and beyond: a longitudinal analysis in five countries
BMC Public Health
Working from home
Well-being
COVID-19
Longitudinal studies
Occupational health
title Working from home and well-being during the pandemic and beyond: a longitudinal analysis in five countries
title_full Working from home and well-being during the pandemic and beyond: a longitudinal analysis in five countries
title_fullStr Working from home and well-being during the pandemic and beyond: a longitudinal analysis in five countries
title_full_unstemmed Working from home and well-being during the pandemic and beyond: a longitudinal analysis in five countries
title_short Working from home and well-being during the pandemic and beyond: a longitudinal analysis in five countries
title_sort working from home and well being during the pandemic and beyond a longitudinal analysis in five countries
topic Working from home
Well-being
COVID-19
Longitudinal studies
Occupational health
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22349-4
work_keys_str_mv AT annaekornadt workingfromhomeandwellbeingduringthepandemicandbeyondalongitudinalanalysisinfivecountries
AT catherineebowen workingfromhomeandwellbeingduringthepandemicandbeyondalongitudinalanalysisinfivecountries
AT anthonylepinteur workingfromhomeandwellbeingduringthepandemicandbeyondalongitudinalanalysisinfivecountries
AT conchitadambrosio workingfromhomeandwellbeingduringthepandemicandbeyondalongitudinalanalysisinfivecountries
AT lucaratti workingfromhomeandwellbeingduringthepandemicandbeyondalongitudinalanalysisinfivecountries
AT clausvogele workingfromhomeandwellbeingduringthepandemicandbeyondalongitudinalanalysisinfivecountries