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

Alessandra Falco (), Damiano Girardi, Achim Elfering, Tanja Peric, Isabella Pividori and Laura Dal Corso
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Alessandra Falco: FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
Damiano Girardi: FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
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

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 13, 1-23

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.

Keywords: smart working; COVID-19; workload; hair cortisol; dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; biomarker; work-related stress; organizational wellbeing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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