Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Working from home, quality of life, and perceived productivity during the first 50-day COVID-19 mitigation measures in Austria: a cross-sectional study.
Weitzer, Jakob; Papantoniou, Kyriaki; Seidel, Stefan; Klösch, Gerhard; Caniglia, Guido; Laubichler, Manfred; Bertau, Martin; Birmann, Brenda M; Jäger, Carlo C; Zenk, Lukas; Steiner, Gerald; Schernhammer, Eva.
  • Weitzer J; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Papantoniou K; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Seidel S; Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Klösch G; Institute for Sleep-Wake-Research, Vienna, Austria.
  • Caniglia G; Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Laubichler M; Institute for Sleep-Wake-Research, Vienna, Austria.
  • Bertau M; Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research (KLI), Klosterneuburg, Austria.
  • Birmann BM; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
  • Jäger CC; Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA.
  • Zenk L; Complexity Science Hub, Vienna, Austria.
  • Steiner G; Institut Für Technische Chemie, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany.
  • Schernhammer E; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health ; 94(8): 1823-1837, 2021 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1193141
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

To explore changes in quality of life and perceived productivity, focusing on the effects of working from home during the first COVID-19 50-day mitigation period in Austria.

METHODS:

We conducted an Austrian-representative online survey (N = 1010) of self-reported life- and work-related changes during the first COVID-19 50-day mitigation period (March 16 through May 1 2020) compared to the situation before. We used multinominal logistic regression models to identify correlates of improved/decreased quality of life in the entire sample, and of improved/decreased productivity in a subsample of the working population (N = 686). We also calculated age- and multivariable-adjusted ORs and 95% CIs of an improved/decreased quality of life and an improved/decreased productivity by work from home status.

RESULTS:

During the COVID-19 mitigation period, quality of life improved in 17.5%, but decreased in 20.7% of the general Austrian population; perceived productivity at work increased in 12.7%, but decreased in 30.2% of the working population. Working from home during the mitigation period was associated with an increased quality of life (vs. none, partially OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.09-3.91; all the time 3.69, 1.86-7.29). In contrast, perceived productivity seemed to decrease when people worked from home (vs. none, partially 1.42, 0.86-2.35; all the time 1.48, 0.85-2.58). Working from home and related benefits were not equally distributed among gender, age, and educational attainment.

CONCLUSIONS:

A transition to more flexibility of workplace and working hours for employees could have important positive consequences for family and professional life, for stakeholders, for public health, and ultimately for the environment.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Quality of Life / Efficiency / Teleworking / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S00420-021-01692-0

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Quality of Life / Efficiency / Teleworking / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S00420-021-01692-0