Negotiating boundaries : the impact of remote work on mental well-being

Abstract

The introduction of remote work has brought about a number of transformations centred around an individual’s ability to navigate the work-nonwork interface. This dissertation sought to contribute to existing knowledge on such developments by examining the management of boundaries in remote work and their potential associations with aspects related to mental well-being. A quantitative research design was adopted in order to gather data on the areas of interest. A total of 87 responses was collected from the distribution of an online questionnaire which were then analysed to produce a number of significant findings. Consequently, the study underscored the crucial role of boundary control in relation to the constructs of boundary conflict, negative spillover and psychological detachment tied to remote work. Hence, within this context, the value of boundary management was accentuated with regards to mental well-being outcomes. The dissertation therefore provides insights that may contribute to furthering knowledge on the navigation of work and non-work spheres while working remotely. This could be beneficial towards employees and management alike in informing the practices one engages in and their associations with the facets of mental well-being assessed.