Benefits of Working from Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic for Undiagnosed Workers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms

PURPOSE: Our previous study suggested that working conditions might impact work productivity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the association between working from home (WFH) and depressive symptoms, work productivity, and quality of life (QOL), in undiagnosed workers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: During the pandemic, the survey was conducted among eligible workers with (N = 904) and without (N = 900) ADHD symptoms based on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale [ASRS]. Each group was further stratified by working conditions (full working on-site [FWOS], hybrid, full WFH [FWFH]). Two-way ANOVA was performed to investigate the impact of WFH on depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] score), work productivity (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment scale [WPAI] scores), and QOL (EuroQol 5-Dimensions 5-Levels [EQ-5D-5L] score). The Tukey–Kramer test was used to assess differences between the stratified subgroups. Poisson and multiple regression analyses were also performed to assess the factors associated with these outcomes. RESULTS: Other than PHQ-9 score between FWOS and hybrid work in workers with ADHD symptoms (p < 0.05), no significant differences were observed in outcomes among the working condition subgroups in both workers with and without ADHD symptoms. In workers with ADHD symptoms, hybrid work and FWFH were significantly associated with a lower PHQ-9 score (hybrid, p < 0.001; FWFH, p < 0.05) but neither were significantly associated with WPAI score nor EQ-5D-5L. Annual income and discretionary work were significantly associated with a lower PHQ-9 score and a higher EQ-5D-5L score in workers with ADHD symptoms. Job type (manufacture/construction) was significantly associated with a lower presenteeism score. CONCLUSION: WFH (hybrid and FWFH) may be associated with lower depressive symptoms compared with FWOS in undiagnosed workers with ADHD symptoms. The findings may be useful when considering suitable working environments for workers especially with ADHD symptoms.