Home Alone: Remote Work, Isolation, and Mental Health
7th June 2026
Remote work skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research since has prioritized studying the impact of working remotely on productivity and job satisfaction but neglected other consequences such as loneliness and mental health. Emanuel et al. examined pre- and postpandemic population-level changes in well-being among workers in remote-capable jobs versus jobs necessitating on-site presence (see the Perspective by Zang and O’Brien). After the pandemic, workers in remote-capable jobs spent more time working alone and avoided social activities with their friends, remaining more isolated both during and after work. This pattern was most pronounced among remote workers living alone: They spent entire days without human contact and their mental distress, use of mental healthcare, and antidepressants increased acutely. —Ekeoma Uzogara
Except for introverts, of course, who were in hog heaven.