working from home appears to have become a literal pain the neck for many people — especially women — with a new u.s. survey indicating a majority of remote workers are experiencing new issues with their bodies and minds.
researchers from the university of southern californa surveyed nearly 1,000 people working from home amid the pandemic. according to the
study
, published in the journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 64 per cent of respondents reported one or more new physical health issues amid working from home, while 75 per cent saw a new mental heatlh issue.
the study suggests people were toiling away more, while communication with their colleagues deteriorated and expectations and distractions increased. it resulted in more neck pain and depression, less exercise and a bigger appetite for junk food.
women appeared to fare worse with a higher incidence of depression, while female workers with annual salary less than $100,000 were more likely than male workers or workers with higher income to report two or more new physical and mental health issues.
part of the issue may be the workstations themselves. only one-third of respondents had a dedicated room for their work, while at least 47.6 shared their workspace with others.