Option better than action? Autonomy over remote work, technostress, and mental health disparities in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed work environments globally, with remote work becoming a more prevalent occupational feature. This study examines the association of different remote work options and extents, as well as technostress, on mental health outcomes (anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep problems, and stress) during the pandemic in Sweden, taking sex differences into account. Using data from 3660 participants in 2020 and 2022 from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) and guided by an extended job demands-resources (JD-R) model, the study used Bayesian multivariate multilevel modelling to analyze predictors of mental health. Key findings reveal that the option for remote work, even when unused, related to better mental health outcomes. Extent of remote work showed no consistent associations. Technostress predicted mental health problems, with an even stronger association for remote workers—compared to on-site workers—in terms of anxiety. Women reported worse mental health outcomes compared to men; however, these disparities appeared to be driven by other factors than by remote work conditions or childcare. Sweden's unique pandemic policies, including open schools, could have mitigated some stressors associated with caregiving responsibilities. These findings highlight the need for flexible work policies, strategies to manage digital demands, and further investigation into explanatory factors behind sex differences in mental health. • Remote work option availability associated with less mental health issues, even when unused. • Technostress predicts mental health problems across a two-year period. • Technostress predicts anxiety strongest among remote workers. • Sex differences in mental health unrelated to remote work or presence of children. • Extent of remote work is not clearly linked to mental health in our findings.