Remote work linked to worse mental health, study finds

A large study published in Science in June 2025 found that remote work reduces social interaction and worsens mental health, especially for those living alone. The research, conducted by economists Natalia Emanuel (Federal Reserve Bank of New York), Emma Harrington (University of Virginia), and Amanda Pallais (Harvard University), analyzed data from over 588,000 U.S. workers across five surveys from 2011 to 2024, excluding 2020–2021. Workers in remote-capable jobs reported spending about one more hour alone daily and showed more psychological distress than those in on-site roles. Among remote workers living alone, 25% reported no in-person social contact on some days. The study also found higher stress, psychiatric visits, and antidepressant prescriptions in this group. However, the authors note remote work has benefits like reduced commuting costs and flexibility. Critics point out the study does not distinguish fully remote from hybrid work and is limited to the U.S. context. Economist Nicholas Bloom (Stanford) said letting workers choose is best for mental health. Sociologist Emma Zang (Yale) advised companies to integrate social relationships into work design, suggesting coworking subsidies or occasional in-person meetings for remote teams.