Remote work’s impact on well-being: longitudinal analysis and the influence of gender, household size and childcare

Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between remote work and subjective well-being and the potential moderating role of gender, household size and childcare. Design/methodology/approach The current research used data from the 2016 and 2020 editions of the Survey on Household Income and Wealth (SHIW) of the Bank of Italy. Italian workers were asked to report their subjective well-being and how many days per month they work remotely (at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic). Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted on a sample of 1.103 and 184 participants, respectively. Findings After controlling for the effects of gender, age, education and perceived economic condition, ordered probit models revealed that the relationship between remote work and subjective well-being was nonsignificant. Moreover, gender, household size and childcare did not play a moderating role in the relationship between remote work and subjective well-being. Practical implications The findings of the current study suggest that an individualized approach is required to maximize the possible benefits of remote work. Originality/value The potential positive effects of remote work on subjective well-being might be overestimated.