Shades of remote work isolation and the power of psychological ownership: a qualitative research perspective among Saudi female workers

Purpose Grounded in the conservation of resources (COR) and self-determination (SDT) theories, this article explores whether female workers can develop a sense of attachment to their company while operating in a virtual space, and how this emotional attachment might mitigate feelings of isolation. Design/methodology/approach This article opts for an exploratory study using a multiple-case study as the method for empirical investigation. Data are gathered from semi-structured interviews with nine virtual Saudi female workers to investigate how remote work impacts their perceptions of isolation. The “Miles and Huberman” way of analyzing qualitative data was adopted. NVivo 10 software is used for coding data. Findings The findings reveal that remote work fosters feelings of isolation among participants. In addition, the results indicate that remote work impacts psychological ownership (PO) dimensions differently. Yet, PO is not found to intervene between remote work and isolation. This exploratory research extends COR theory, by integrating PO into our model as a self-regulation coping strategy that helps female remote workers deal with isolation. Originality/value This study is the first to explore the potential effects of remote work on individuals' outcomes in Eastern nations, particularly Saudi Arabia. The study's results reframe the remote work landscape by offering a more nuanced analysis of how its harms and advantages can coexist.