A cross-sectional study of the associations of telework and job resources with mental health and quality of life among workers in Lebanon

The relationship between telework, mental health, and well-being is complex and influenced by numerous covariates and individual and contextual differences. This study aimed to examine the associations between work modality, mental health, and well-being within the Lebanese crisis context. A web-based, cross-sectional self-report survey was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023 using Google Forms. The link was sent to workers from different sectors of activity. Psychological distress was evaluated using the 8-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-8). Perceived well-being was assessed using the World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). A total of 230 workers in Lebanon participated in the study. Overall, 31.3% reported depressive symptoms, 25.2% anxiety, and 38.3% stress above normal levels. More than half (53.5%) reported good quality of life, and 55.7% had high E-Work Life (EWL) scores. Financial well-being was inversely associated with DASS-depression, DASS-anxiety, and DASS-stress. Being married was significantly associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Higher EWL Work-Life Balance scores were were significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. No significant differences were found between work status and mental health subscales. Higher DASS-depression levels (beta = -0.70) were correlated with lower quality of life. No significant differences were observed in mental health or well-being across work modalities (onsite, hybrid, or telework). In contrast, financial well-being and work-related experiences appeared more strongly associated with these outcomes. These findings suggest that, within the Lebanese crisis context, broader socioeconomic conditions may play a greater role in shaping mental health than work modality itself.