Peer Review of “Influence of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Physical and Psychosocial Well-being and Work Productivity of Remote Workers: Cross-sectional Correlational Study”

BACKGROUND Lockdowns imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the living and working habits of millions of people, with potentially important implications for their physical, mental, and social well-being. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on remote workers who were not directly affected by COVID-19. METHODS This was a correlational cross-sectional study (with an additional qualitative component) of 184 remote workers surveyed during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom. Standard measures of mental health (Kessler-6 Distress Scale), productivity (Brief Instrument to Assess Workers’ Productivity During a Working Day), and physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) were used, and respondents were further surveyed on changes to their dietary, exercise, smoking, drinking, and socialization habits to produce a well-being change index. RESULTS The results revealed associations between sedentary behavior and poorer mental health (τb=0.14) and between poorer mental health and low work productivity (τb=–0.39). However, both positive and negative lifestyle changes were reported; a self-reported increase in well-being (with respect to diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, and socialization) since the start of the pandemic was associated with both better mental health (τb=–0.14) and better work productivity (τb=0.14). Of note, among respondents without a mental health diagnosis (137/184, 74.4%), we observed rates of moderate (76/137, 55.5%) and severe (17/137, 12.4%) psychological distress, which were markedly higher than those reported in large prepandemic studies; moreover, 70.1% (129/184) of our respondents reported more sedentary behavior, 41% (69/168) increased their alcohol consumption, and 38.6% (71/184) increased their overall food intake. However, 46% (75/163), 44.8% (39/87) and 51.8% (57/110) of respondents reported spending more time walking and engaging in more moderate and vigorous exercise, respectively. Qualitative analysis revealed many positive adaptations to lockdowns (eg, decreased commuting expenses, flexibility) but also a number of structural obstacles to remote working (eg, lack of support and high expectations from employers, childcare duties). CONCLUSIONS These findings may be of practical importance for policy makers and employers in a world in which work involves long-term remote or hybrid employment arrangements; strategies to promote more sustainable remote working are discussed.

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Examining the relationship between engagement and perceived stress-related cognitive complaints in the argentinian working population

Europe’s Journal of Psychology ◽

10.5964/ejop.v16i1.1832 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 12-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agustín Ramiro Miranda ◽

Luisina Rivadero ◽

Jorge Ángel Bruera ◽

Virginia Villarreal ◽

Laura Yhicel Bernio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Perceived Stress ◽

Work Engagement ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Work Productivity ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Cognitive Complaints ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Relationship

Stress has a negative impact on cognitive functioning and occupational well-being. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship among perceived stress, cognitive complaints and work engagement in public employees from Córdoba, Argentina. In this cross-sectional study, self-report questionnaires were administered to 240 participants. Spanish versions of the following instruments were used: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), Memory Failures in Everyday (MFE), Executive Complaint Questionnaire (ECQ). Statistical analysis included ANOVA, path analysis, and multiple logistic regression. Stressed workers showed lower work engagement and more cognitive complaints, even after adjusting for demographic variables. Negative associations were also observed between work engagement and cognitive complaints, suggesting that cognitive difficulties are related to engagement. Given the relation among stress, cognition, and work engagement, it is important to consider these factors to foster workers’ health and work productivity.

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THE IRRATIONAL BELIEFS OF BALINESE FEMALE OFFICE WORKERS

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2020.v13i5.37093 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 75-77

Author(s):

SUSY PURNAWATI ◽

INTEN DWI PRIMAYANTI IDA ◽

ADIPUTRA IN

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Irrational Beliefs ◽

Work Productivity ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Program Improvement ◽

Office Workers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Government

Objective: This preliminary study aimed to explore the score of irrational beliefs (IBs) among Balinese female office workers in Gianyar. This is a new and very interesting issue in occupational mental health practice in Bali and Indonesia. The finding of this study will be able to use as information for an authority to create some program improvement for human resources at work setting. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional study design involved 30 participants. In this study, we measured the IBs score by self-reported questionnaire of the smith IB inventory which contained 24 items statement. Results: The means age of participants was 40.4 years old and means the length of stay was 15.2. years. In this preliminary study, we found the means score of IBs score was 52.37±10.460 (high score category). Conclusion: The score of IBs of Balinese female office workers in Gianyar was high score category. This result has a clinical impact as well as the outcome of this study can be used to be a recommendation to the government or organization to create an awareness program to decrease worker’s IBs score in purposing better their mental health, work productivity, and well-being.

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The caregiver burden in lupus: findings from UNVEIL, a national online lupus survey in the United States

Lupus ◽

10.1177/0961203316651743 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 54-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

S Al Sawah ◽

R P Daly ◽

S A Foster ◽

A N Naegeli ◽

K Benjamin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Caregiver Burden ◽

Activity Index ◽

Short Form ◽

Work Productivity ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Substantial Impact ◽

The Impact

Objectives: Lupus imposes a substantial burden on patients; however, little is known about its impact on those caring for patients with the disease. In this study, we examined the impact ‘caring for patients with lupus’ has on caregivers from their own perspective. Methods: UNVEIL was a one-time online national cross-sectional survey developed in partnership with the Lupus Foundation of America and fielded targeting the US Lupus Foundation of America constituents in 2014. Eligible caregivers were adults who self-identified as unpaid caregivers of patients with lupus. Eligible caregivers had to complete a series of sociodemographic questions as well as a series of well established outcome measures, such as the Short Form 12v2 Health Survey, the Work Productivity and Activity Index, the Caregiver Burden Inventory, and the Perceived Benefits of Caregiving Scale. Results: A total of 253 caregivers completed the survey. The majority of caregivers (90.1%) were aged 60 years or younger, more than half (54.2%) were men, and more than half (59.7%) identified themselves as either a spouse or a partner to the patient with lupus they were caring for. Overall health-related quality of life was close to the norm mean of the general US population. Caregivers who were employed missed an average of 12.8% of paid work time due to caregiving responsibilities and reported a 33.5% reduction in on-the-job effectiveness. Nearly half of the caregivers surveyed (49.4%) indicated that their caregiving responsibilities impacted their ability to socialize with friends, and almost all caregivers (97.6%) reported experiencing increased anxiety and stress in relation to their caregiving role. Conclusions: Caregiving for patients with lupus has a substantial impact on the work productivity and the social and emotional functioning of caregivers. Healthcare professionals and policymakers should continually assess the impact of healthcare decisions on the well-being of those caring for patients with lupus.

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Influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on remote workers’ physical and psychosocial wellbeing and work productivity

10.31234/osf.io/dnuk3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yessica Abigail Tronco Hernández ◽

Fabio Parente ◽

Mark A. Faghy ◽

Clare M. P. Roscoe ◽

Frances Maratos

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Practical Importance ◽

Work Productivity ◽

Well Being ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Vigorous Exercise ◽

Remote Workers ◽

The Impact

Introduction: Imposed lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the living and working habits of millions, with potentially important implications for physical, mental, and social wellbeing.Objectives: The primary objective was to investigate the impact of the pandemic on remote workers not directly affected by the virus.Methods: This was a correlational cross-sectional study (with an additional qualitative component) of 184 remote workers surveyed during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. Standard measures of mental health (Kessler-6), productivity (IAPT) and physical activity (IPAQ) were used, with respondents further surveyed on changes to their dietary, exercise, smoking, drinking and socialisation habits to produce a ‘well-being change index’.Results: Results revealed associations between sedentary behaviour and poorer mental health (τb=.14) and between poorer mental health and low work productivity (τb=-.39). However, both positive and negative lifestyle changes were reported; a self-reported increase in wellbeing (with respect to diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, and socialisation) since the start of the pandemic was associated with both better mental health (τb=-.14) and better work productivity (τb=.14). Of note, we observed rates of moderate (55%) and severe (12%) psychological distress markedly higher than those reported in large pre-pandemic studies, and 70% of our respondents reported more sedentary behaviour, 41% increased their alcohol consumption and 39% their overall food intake. However, 46%, 45% and 52% reported spending more time walking, engaging in more moderate and vigorous exercise, respectively. Qualitative analysis revealed many positive adaptations to lockdowns (e.g., decreased commuting expenses, flexibility) but also a number of structural obstacles to remote working (e.g., lack of support and high expectations from employers, childcare duties).Conclusion: These findings may be of practical importance for policy makers and employers in a world of work involving long-term remote or hybrid employment arrangements; strategies to promote more sustainable remote working are discussed.

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