Occupational Health Problems and Lifestyle Changes Among Novice Working-From-Home Workers Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background Social distancing by working-from-home is an effective measure to decrease the spread of COVID-19. However, this new work pattern could also affect the well-being of workers. Therefore, the aim of the study was to study the magnitude of occupational health problems and lifestyle changes among workers who have only recently started working from home. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using online self-administered questionnaires during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the Bangkok metropolitan area, Thailand. The participants were from any organization that allowed working from home. The demographic data including the analysis of the characteristics of working from home, the occurrence of occupational health problems, and the lifestyle changes caused by working from home were analyzed. Results A total of 869 workers were included as study participants. The highest prevalence of physical health problems among all workers was identified to be weight gain at a rate of 40.97% (95% confidence interval = 37.69–44.24), and the highest prevalence of psychosocial problems was identified to be cabin fever at a rate of 31.28% (95% confidence interval = 26.66–35.90%) among full-time working-from-home workers. The health effects that were significantly related to the intensity of working from home ( p for trends <0.05), either positively or negatively, included body weight changes, ergonomic problems, indoor environmental problems, and psychosocial problems. Meanwhile, the lifestyle changes related to work intensity included eating pattern, sleep habits, and exercise. Conclusions Working from home can affect workers' well-being in various aspects. Hence, occupational health providers must prepare for risk prevention and health promotion in this “new normal” working life pattern and for future pandemics.

Impact of Working from Home on Cardiovascular Health: An Emerging Issue with the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In a survey conducted more than six months after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and including 194 employees who switched to working from home because of the pandemic, Guler et al found that almost half of the study population (46.9%) reported an increase in body weight during the working-from-home period [51]. Another survey, including 869 individuals working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, reported a 41% prevalence of weight gain, with a dose-response relationship with the intensity of working from home as the number of days per week spent working from home [52]. Of note, a significant association between sedentary work (measured as sitting time) and higher body mass index was already reported in scientific literature [53].…”

The Impact of Changes in Work Arrangements During COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyle of Qatar's Working Population

“…Almost one half (47%) of the participants in the total sample reported some weight gain consisting with the results of a study conducted in Bangkok which showed that 41% of workers who shifted to work from home reported weight gain. 13 This finding is alarming and might result in complications of existing chronic diseases and can contribute to the development of new ones. There was a significant difference between the WFH group, and the working regularly group in terms of weight gain, where unsurprisingly greater weight gain was reported among the WFH group.…”

“…Of those who shifted to WFH, 39% reported eating larger quantities of food, 33% reduction in daily physical activity, 41% weight gain, and 21% reported insomnia. 13 Decreased walking among those worked from home during the pandemic was observed in another study and was linked to depression. 14 To our knowledge, only few studies have assessed the impact of working from home on lifestyle aspects during COVID-19.…”

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