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The effects of commuting and working from home arrangements on mental health

Author

Listed:
  • Ferdi Botha

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, The University of Melbourne)

  • Jan Kabátek

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, The University of Melbourne)

  • Jordy Meekes

    (Department of Economics, Leiden University, Netherlands)

  • Roger Wilkins

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, The University of Melbourne)

Abstract

In this study, we quantify the causal effects of commuting time and working from home (WFH) arrangements on the mental health of Australian men and women. Leveraging rich panel-data models, we first show that adverse effects of commuting time manifest only among men. These are concentrated among individuals with pre-existing mental health issues, and they are modest in magnitude. Second, we show that WFH arrangements have large positive effects on women’s mental health, provided that the WFH component is large enough. The effects are once again concentrated among individuals with pre-existing mental health issues. This effect specificity is novel and extends beyond Australia: we show that it also underlies the adverse effects of commuting time on the mental health of British women. Our findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions and support for individuals who are dealing with mental health problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferdi Botha & Jan Kabátek & Jordy Meekes & Roger Wilkins, 2023. "The effects of commuting and working from home arrangements on mental health," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2023n15, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    • Handle: RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2023n15
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mental health; commuting; working from home; unconditional quantile regression;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise

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