Remote work has soared in popularity since the pandemic, but a new study suggests it may be taking a significant toll on workers' mental health. According to research published in the journal *Science*, people who work remotely report higher levels of social isolation, anxiety, and depression compared to those in roles that require in-person attendance.
The Hidden Costs of Working From Home
"Other studies have found that workers are willing to give up 4% to 10% of their earnings for the ability to work remotely, so there is a great desire for it," says Natalia Emanuel, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the study's lead author.
Yet, Emanuel and her colleagues discovered that remote workers experience a significant increase in hours spent alone during the workday, alongside a rise in visits to mental health care providers. In self-reports, these workers also rate their own mental health more negatively.
The findings suggest that "people might be choosing poorly" when it comes to their long-term well-being, according to Nicholas Epley, a behavioral science professor at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, who was not involved in the study.
He explains that it is easy to recognize the immediate frustrations of a daily commute, but much harder to anticipate how the loss of workplace social connections will impact us over time. Furthermore, his own research shows that people often "underestimate how well things will go when we actually reach out to connect with other people."
Epley notes that Emanuel's team found a way to answer a question he is frequently asked: "What does working from home actually do to us?" Usually, he explains, it is difficult to tell because workers are rarely randomly assigned to remote or in-person roles in a controlled experiment.
"Remotable" vs. "Non-Remotable" Jobs
To overcome this hurdle, the researchers analyzed data from five large national surveys of American workers. They compared employees in "remotable" jobs—such as software engineering and marketing—with those in "non-remotable" roles that cannot be done from home, like surgery or mechanical engineering.
The results were striking. Workers in remote jobs experienced a 58% increase in hours spent alone compared to their in-person counterparts. Furthermore, they saw a 72% higher chance of going an entire day without any human contact.
"Not even a wave to a barista, or somebody checking the ripeness of avocados at the grocery store," Emanuel says. "Just no human contact at all."
Crucially, remote workers aren't compensating for this lost connection after hours. "We even see a decrease in time spent with friends after the workday relative to people in non-remotable occupations," Emanuel adds.
A Rise in Mental Health Struggles
The isolation correlates with a measurable decline in mental health. People in remote jobs showed increased symptoms of emotional distress on standardized anxiety and depression questionnaires. They also made more visits to mental health professionals and filled more prescriptions for psychiatric medications.
These negative impacts are particularly severe for remote workers who live alone. This demographic saw the largest increase—an 83% jump—in the likelihood of spending their entire day without social contact. Consequently, the increase in mental distress is nearly twice as large for those living alone compared to those living with family.
This aligns with decades of research on the dangers of loneliness. "Being alone compromises your immune system functioning [and] your cardiovascular system functioning," Epley points out, adding that the strongest predictor of human happiness and well-being is "the quality of your social relationships."
Gillian Sandstrom, a psychologist at Sussex University and author of *Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How 'Small' Talk Can Add Up to a Big Life*, emphasizes that the human need for belonging is non-negotiable. "Psychologists believe this feeling of human connection and belonging is just absolutely crucial to us as humans," she says. "We cannot thrive; we suffer if we don't have that need met."
Rethinking the Workplace
While the findings are alarming, Epley cautions that they "don't suggest that every office should be forcing everybody to come in to work." Instead, he suggests that employers must acknowledge the mental health toll of remote work and actively make the office environment more appealing.
As organizations navigate return-to-office mandates, Epley advises ensuring that the office is actually buzzing with colleagues when employees arrive. "What they're providing that's rewarding at work is social interaction [and] social connection," he notes.
For those who continue to work remotely, Sandstrom recommends being highly intentional about seeking out daily human interactions.
"I leave the house every day. I go for a walk, I see my neighbors, I pet some dogs," she says. "I have the activities that I do. I play tennis. I have hobbies that mean that I see other people."