"The most significant finding from the study is the powerful positive effect a hybrid work model has on women's mental health. The sweet spot appears to be working mainly from home while spending one to two days per week in the office. For women who were already experiencing poor mental health, this arrangement provided a mental health boost comparable to a 15% increase in household income. This suggests the benefits go far beyond simply cutting down on commute time. The flexibility to better manage work and family responsibilities and experience less work-related stress are likely major contributing factors."
"Interestingly, the daily commute appears to take a greater toll on men's mental health than on women's. The study found that for men who already had strained mental health, longer commute times were directly linked to a further decline in their well-being. The research quantified this impact, noting that adding just 30 minutes to a man's one-way commute had a negative effect similar to a 2% drop in household income. For women, however, commute time did not have a detectable impact on their mental health."
Analysis of more than 16,000 Australian workers over two decades shows varied mental-health effects across work arrangements and genders. Hybrid work—mostly from home with one to two days per week in the office—substantially boosts women's mental health, with gains for women with poor mental health comparable to a 15% household income increase. The flexibility to manage work and family responsibilities and reduced work-related stress are likely mechanisms. Longer daily commutes disproportionately harm men's mental health, with an extra 30 minutes one-way equating to about a 2% household income decline for men with strained mental health. Individuals with strong mental health show resilience to commute and arrangement downsides.
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