Remote work may improve efficiency and convenience for employees who live alone, but it can also cut their chances to meet people, deepening social isolation and mental strain, according to a new study.
Workers Living Alone Spent Twice as Much Time Without Social Contact
A study published in the latest issue of the journal Science found differences in social contact and mental distress between occupations that can be performed remotely and those that cannot, CNN reported. The researchers compared the two groups using more than a decade of national survey data from the United States. The survey did not ask whether respondents actually worked from home.
People living alone in remote-capable occupations spent 25% of the total period without any social contact, more than double the share for workers in jobs that require being on site. The increase in mental distress through the COVID-19 pandemic was also about twice as large in remote-capable occupations.
These workers also showed a tendency to avoid meeting people after working hours. Constance Noonan Hadley, an organizational psychologist, said loneliness or a lack of social interaction may be linked to the pattern. People who experience loneliness become more sensitive to social rejection and may defensively avoid contact with others, which in turn further reduces interaction, creating a vicious cycle, she said.
Going to the Office Does Not Resolve Isolation
Still, some argue that remote work itself cannot be blamed for worsening mental health. Some studies have found that remote workers scored better than on-site workers on health-related measures. The ability to use commuting time for exercise or rest was also cited as an advantage of working from home.
Hadley said going to an office does not automatically create a meaningful and socially fulfilling environment, and cautioned against forcing a broad return to on-site work.
Experts said what matters is social connection — feeling respected by others and a sense of belonging — rather than where the work is done. Companies were advised to set up mentoring programs, in-house gatherings and events that reflect employees' views.
Remote workers, for their part, were advised to make a conscious effort to interact with others so that time spent alone does not stretch too long, and to seek out settings where they can feel a sense of belonging.
