The Relationship Between Online Work and Depression in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Quantitative Study and Some Practical Recommendations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18662/upasw/27/58Keywords:
online work, depression, COVID-19 pandemic, generalized self-efficacy, quantitative study, practical recommendationsAbstract
The relationship between online work, well-being and mental health is well-documented. This study aimed to highlight the relationship between online work and depression in the context of the rapid changes that have marked the field of work and the organizational world, as a result of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. One hundred and ninety-seven subjects were recruited from the community population using the convenience sampling technique. Of these, 139 carried out their academic/professional activity online, while 58 worked in situ. Participants completed the Romanian versions for the Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS) and General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). There was no statistically significant difference between the scores that participants in the two groups revealed for depression. In contrast, for generalized self-efficacy, participants who worked online scored significantly higher than those who worked in situ. In addition, for both groups of participants, the level of depression was negatively associated with generalized self-efficacy. Several practical recommendations for reducing the risks of working online are proposed.
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