Association of Preference and Frequency of Teleworking with Work Functioning Impairment: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Japanese Full-Time Employees

Satoshi Yamashita; Tomohiro Ishimaru; Tomohisa Nagata; Seiichiro Tateishi; Ayako Hino; Mayumi Tsuji; Kazunori Ikegami; Keiji Muramatsu; Yoshihisa Fujino; CORoNaWork Project

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000002536

Association of Preference and Frequency of Teleworking with Work Functioning Impairment: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Japanese Full-Time Employees

J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Jun 1;64(6):e363-e368. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002536. Epub 2022 May 4.

Authors

Satoshi Yamashita¹, Tomohiro Ishimaru, Tomohisa Nagata, Seiichiro Tateishi, Ayako Hino, Mayumi Tsuji, Kazunori Ikegami, Keiji Muramatsu, Yoshihisa Fujino; CORoNaWork Project

Affiliation

¹ From the Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Yamashita, Dr Ishimaru, and Dr Fujino); Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Yamashita and Dr Nagata); Department of Occupational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Tateishi); Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Hino); Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Tsuji); Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Ikegami); Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Muramatsu).

Abstract

Objective: We examined whether teleworking preference and frequency were associated with work functioning impairment.

Methods: This online cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire among 27,036 full-time Japanese workers. The Work Functioning Impairment Scale was used to measure work functioning impairment, and we performed multilevel logistic regression analysis.

Results: Higher odds ratios for work functioning impairment were observed among employees who preferred to telework compared with those who preferred working in the workplace. A similar trend was observed among employees who teleworked four or more days a week compared with those who almost never teleworked. When teleworking preference and frequency were adjusted, only teleworking preference was associated with work functioning impairment.

Conclusions: A preference for teleworking was associated with work functioning impairment and one factor that increased the teleworking frequency.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Employment*
Humans
Japan / epidemiology
Teleworking*
Workplace