IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i13p6220-d1178407.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Is Smart Working Beneficial for Workers’ Wellbeing? A Longitudinal Investigation of Smart Working, Workload, and Hair Cortisol/Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Alessandra Falco

    (FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Damiano Girardi

    (FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Achim Elfering

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Tanja Peric

    (Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Isabella Pividori

    (Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Laura Dal Corso

    (FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy)

Abstract

Building on the job demands–resources (JD-R) and allostatic load (AL) models, in the present study we examined the role of smart working (SW) in the longitudinal association between workload/job autonomy (JA) and a possible biomarker of work-related stress (WRS) in the hair—namely, the cortisol–dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA(S)) ratio—during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 124 workers completed a self-report questionnaire (i.e., psychological data) at Time 1 (T1) and provided a strand of hair (i.e., biological data) three months later (Time 2, T2). Results from moderated multiple regression analysis showed that SW at T1 was negatively associated with the hair cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio at T2. Additionally, the interaction between workload and SW was significant, with workload at T1 being positively associated with the hair cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio at T2 among smart workers. Overall, this study indicates that SW is a double-edged sword, with both positive and negative consequences on employee wellbeing. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the hair cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio is a promising biomarker of WRS. Practical implications that organizations and practitioners can adopt to prevent WRS and promote organizational wellbeing are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandra Falco & Damiano Girardi & Achim Elfering & Tanja Peric & Isabella Pividori & Laura Dal Corso, 2023. "Is Smart Working Beneficial for Workers’ Wellbeing? A Longitudinal Investigation of Smart Working, Workload, and Hair Cortisol/Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:13:p:6220-:d:1178407
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/13/6220/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/13/6220/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marijntje E. L. Zeijen & Veerle Brenninkmeijer & Maria C. W. Peeters & Nicole J. J. M. Mastenbroek, 2021. "Exploring the Role of Personal Demands in the Health-Impairment Process of the Job Demands-Resources Model: A Study among Master Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Julia L. O. Beckel & Gwenith G. Fisher, 2022. "Telework and Worker Health and Well-Being: A Review and Recommendations for Research and Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-32, March.
    3. Monica Molino & Emanuela Ingusci & Fulvio Signore & Amelia Manuti & Maria Luisa Giancaspro & Vincenzo Russo & Margherita Zito & Claudio G. Cortese, 2020. "Wellbeing Costs of Technology Use during Covid-19 Remote Working: An Investigation Using the Italian Translation of the Technostress Creators Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Abubakar Tabiu & Faizuniah Pangil & Siti Zubaidah Othman, 2020. "Does Training, Job Autonomy and Career Planning Predict Employees’ Adaptive Performance?," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 21(3), pages 713-724, June.
    5. Ting Wei & Weiwei Wang & Suihuai Yu, 2022. "Analysis of the Cognitive Load of Employees Working from Home and the Construction of the Telecommuting Experience Balance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.
    6. Christine Ipsen & Marc van Veldhoven & Kathrin Kirchner & John Paulin Hansen, 2021. "Six Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Working from Home in Europe during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Rosseel, Yves, 2012. "lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i02).
    8. Väänänen, Ari & Toppinen-Tanner, Salla & Kalimo, Raija & Mutanen, Pertti & Vahtera, Jussi & Peiró, José M., 2003. "Job characteristics, physical and psychological symptoms, and social support as antecedents of sickness absence among men and women in the private industrial sector," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(5), pages 807-824, September.
    9. Kazekami, Sachiko, 2020. "Mechanisms to improve labor productivity by performing telework," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(2).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Leonel Prieto & Md Farid Talukder, 2023. "Resilient Agility: A Necessary Condition for Employee and Organizational Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-24, January.
    2. Justine M. Y. Chim & Tien Li Chen, 2023. "Prediction of Work from Home and Musculoskeletal Discomfort: An Investigation of Ergonomic Factors in Work Arrangements and Home Workstation Setups Using the COVID-19 Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-24, February.
    3. Bruna Ferrara & Martina Pansini & Clara De Vincenzi & Ilaria Buonomo & Paula Benevene, 2022. "Investigating the Role of Remote Working on Employees’ Performance and Well-Being: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Battisti, Enrico & Alfiero, Simona & Leonidou, Erasmia, 2022. "Remote working and digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic: Economic–financial impacts and psychological drivers for employees," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 38-50.
    5. Cataldo Giuliano Gemmano & Amelia Manuti & Sabrina Girardi & Caterina Balenzano, 2023. "From Conflict to Balance: Challenges for Dual-Earner Families Managing Technostress and Work Exhaustion in the Post-Pandemic Scenario," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-16, April.
    6. Ioana Gutu & Camelia Nicoleta Medeleanu, 2023. "Assessing Teleworkforce and Electronic Leadership Favorable for an Online Workforce Sustainability Framework by Using PLS SEM," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-32, September.
    7. Simone Donati & Gianluca Viola & Ferdinando Toscano & Salvatore Zappalà, 2021. "Not All Remote Workers Are Similar: Technology Acceptance, Remote Work Beliefs, and Wellbeing of Remote Workers during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-19, November.
    8. Roshayati Abdul Hamid, 2023. "The Effect of Work from Home on Adaptive Performance and Moderated by Humble Leadership," European Journal of Social Sciences Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 6, January -.
    9. Sonia Nawrocka & Hans De Witte & Margherita Pasini & Margherita Brondino, 2023. "A Person-Centered Approach to Job Insecurity: Is There a Reciprocal Relationship between the Quantitative and Qualitative Dimensions of Job Insecurity?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-27, March.
    10. Md. Mominur Rahman & Bilkis Akhter, 2021. "The impact of investment in human capital on bank performance: evidence from Bangladesh," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-13, December.
    11. Masashi Soga & Kevin J. Gaston & Yuichi Yamaura & Kiyo Kurisu & Keisuke Hanaki, 2016. "Both Direct and Vicarious Experiences of Nature Affect Children’s Willingness to Conserve Biodiversity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-12, May.
    12. César Merino-Soto & Gina Chávez-Ventura & Verónica López-Fernández & Guillermo M. Chans & Filiberto Toledano-Toledano, 2022. "Learning Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-L): Psychometric and Measurement Invariance Evidence in Peruvian Undergraduate Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.
    13. Nathaniel Oliver Iotti & Damiano Menin & Tomas Jungert, 2022. "Early Adolescents’ Motivations to Defend Victims of Cyberbullying," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-9, July.
    14. Peter Tavel & Bibiana Jozefiakova & Peter Telicak & Jana Furstova & Michal Puza & Natalia Kascakova, 2022. "Psychometric Analysis of the Shortened Version of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale on the Slovak Population (SWBS-Sk)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-12, January.
    15. Allen, Jaime & Eboli, Laura & Forciniti, Carmen & Mazzulla, Gabriella & Ortúzar, Juan de Dios, 2019. "The role of critical incidents and involvement in transit satisfaction and loyalty," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 57-69.
    16. Andreea-Ionela Puiu & Anca Monica Ardeleanu & Camelia Cojocaru & Anca Bratu, 2021. "Exploring the Effect of Status Quo, Innovativeness, and Involvement Tendencies on Luxury Fashion Innovations: The Mediation Role of Status Consumption," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-18, May.
    17. Andres Trujillo-Barrera & Joost M. E. Pennings & Dianne Hofenk, 2016. "Understanding producers' motives for adopting sustainable practices: the role of expected rewards, risk perception and risk tolerance," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 43(3), pages 359-382.
    18. Daria J. Kuss & Lydia Harkin & Eiman Kanjo & Joel Billieux, 2018. "Problematic Smartphone Use: Investigating Contemporary Experiences Using a Convergent Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, January.
    19. Allen, Jaime & Muñoz, Juan Carlos & Ortúzar, Juan de Dios, 2019. "On evasion behaviour in public transport: Dissatisfaction or contagion?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 626-651.
    20. Cloarec, Julien, 2022. "Privacy controls as an information source to reduce data poisoning in artificial intelligence-powered personalization," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 144-153.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:13:p:6220-:d:1178407. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.