Abstract
Objectives. The objective of the study was to identify what circumstances and conditions have caused higher prevalence of anxiety in teleworkers in Latvia during the 1st emergency state resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods. Survey participants were recruited with snowball sampling method and social media advertisements. In total, 1006 employees fully responded the questionnaire during 28.09.2020. – 27.10.2020. After data cleaning, answers from 453 teleworkers who gave a certain answer on having anxiety were included in analysis. 116 (25.6%) were teleworkers with experience before COVID-19, 337 (74.4%) – without it. Data weights were made by age crossed with gender (in 12 age-gender combinations) and analysed with statistical software IBM SPSS, v26. The average age of respondents after weighting was 42.9 +/- 11.6 (min 22, max 72 years), 42.2% were males and 57.8% females.
Results. After data weighting, 35.9% of all teleworkers reported anxiety. Anxiety was more often reported by teleworkers without previous experience (81.9% versus 18.1% with no experience); teleworkers who needed training on stress reduction (55.9% versus 10.3% who have received it). Lack of employers’ interest in the teleworking conditions also influenced prevalence of anxiety (41.7% respondents among those whose employer did not care versus 14.4% among those whose employers cared). Anxiety was more often mentioned among those whose employers did not compensate costs (e.g. internet, electricity) (58.9%) versus only 1.4% teleworkers whose employers compensated costs (p<0.001 in all cases).
Conclusions. Prevalence of anxiety was influenced by insufficient involvement of the employer in organization of telework.Various measures taken by employers could help to reduce prevalence of anxiety, both directly (e.g. training on stress management) and indirectly (e.g. compensation of costs). As employers may not be aware of support, they could provide to teleworkers, their awareness should be increased.
Methods. Survey participants were recruited with snowball sampling method and social media advertisements. In total, 1006 employees fully responded the questionnaire during 28.09.2020. – 27.10.2020. After data cleaning, answers from 453 teleworkers who gave a certain answer on having anxiety were included in analysis. 116 (25.6%) were teleworkers with experience before COVID-19, 337 (74.4%) – without it. Data weights were made by age crossed with gender (in 12 age-gender combinations) and analysed with statistical software IBM SPSS, v26. The average age of respondents after weighting was 42.9 +/- 11.6 (min 22, max 72 years), 42.2% were males and 57.8% females.
Results. After data weighting, 35.9% of all teleworkers reported anxiety. Anxiety was more often reported by teleworkers without previous experience (81.9% versus 18.1% with no experience); teleworkers who needed training on stress reduction (55.9% versus 10.3% who have received it). Lack of employers’ interest in the teleworking conditions also influenced prevalence of anxiety (41.7% respondents among those whose employer did not care versus 14.4% among those whose employers cared). Anxiety was more often mentioned among those whose employers did not compensate costs (e.g. internet, electricity) (58.9%) versus only 1.4% teleworkers whose employers compensated costs (p<0.001 in all cases).
Conclusions. Prevalence of anxiety was influenced by insufficient involvement of the employer in organization of telework.Various measures taken by employers could help to reduce prevalence of anxiety, both directly (e.g. training on stress management) and indirectly (e.g. compensation of costs). As employers may not be aware of support, they could provide to teleworkers, their awareness should be increased.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 144-144 |
| Publication status | Published - 2021 |
| Event | 63rd International Scientific Conference of Daugavpils University - Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia Duration: 15 Apr 2021 → 16 Apr 2021 Conference number: 63 https://dukonference.lv/files/2021_978-9984-14-942-4_DU%2063%20starpt%20zinatn%20konf%20tezes.pdf https://dukonference.lv/en http://dukonference.lv/files/tezes_labotas.doc |
Conference
| Conference | 63rd International Scientific Conference of Daugavpils University |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Latvia |
| City | Daugavpils |
| Period | 15/04/21 → 16/04/21 |
| Other | Daugavpils Universitātes 63. starptautiskā zinātniskā konference |
| Internet address |
Field of Science*
- 5.1 Psychology
- 3.3 Health sciences
Publication Type*
- 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)