Remote work and wellbeing

: the role of grit during Covid19 outbreak

Abstract

The outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has changed the nature of work, and millions of peopleworldwide are currently working from their homes. Apart from the worries regarding theirown physical health, and since the finishing line is not in sight, people are also fighting withthe uncertainty regarding the near future. In this dissertation we aimed to address thewellbeing of remote workers and how a certain personality trait – grit – could influence howworkers are coping with this new reality. Since it addresses a new topic, this paper is anexploratory study and passed first through a general approach of the data gathered in thequestions of self-report measurement about remote working and the Covid-19 outbreak, andsecondly it was analyzed the data collected over the following questionnaires: PerceivedStress Scale (PSS) (Cohen Kamarck & Mermelstein, 1983), Kessler Psychological DistressScale (K10) (Kessler et al., 2002) and Grit Scale (Duckworth & Quinn, 2009). The findingssuggest that grit has a statistically significant correlation with a better work life balance andproductivity; additionally, participants’ ability of perseverance for long-term goals (grit) isa significant predictor of one’s wellbeing. Furthermore, participants who reported having agood work life balance and productivity showed higher levels of wellbeing. Supplementaryfindings demonstrate that remote workers are being more productive, even though they areworking more hours and reported having difficulties in maintaining a good work life balance,especially female participants. This dissertation can be used as a starting point, future studiescan extend and transform it into a longitudinal study and measure the differences betweenthe wellbeing of remote workers in a different moment of the pandemic outbreak. Finally,this dissertation has societal impact since it contributes to increase the knowledge about thepandemic and inspire and alert the institutions responsible for the policy making.

Date of Award	23 Feb 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Ana Rita Farias (Supervisor)