A comparative study of telework stressors-distress-outcome in the United States and China

This comparative study investigates telework stressors-distress-outcome during the COVID-19 lockdown in the U.S. and China, by employing stressor-strain-outcome framework. We conducted a survey to test our research hypotheses, gathering responses from two distinct countries: the United States and China. Given their cultural, institutional, and economic differences, these samples allowed us to explore telework stress in a cross-cultural context. Our total sample size was 835, with 510 respondents from the U.S. and 325 from China. Our findings revealed work-family conflict has a significantly stronger impact on distress for American teleworkers compared to Chinese teleworkers. Social isolation significantly contributes to telework distress, particularly for Chinese teleworkers. Resource inadequacies significantly increase telework distress for American teleworkers, while Chinese teleworkers are not affected. Telework satisfaction equally impacts perceived job performance for both American and Chinese teleworkers, highlighting its universal significance regardless of cultural differences. Understanding and addressing telework stressors concerning cultural values are crucial for fostering a supportive telework environment in both U.S. and Chinese multinational workplaces.