Avui, dilluns 8 de juny, el Dipòsit Digital no estarà operatiu de 15:00 a 17:00 h per tasques de manteniment. Disculpeu les molèsties.
Hoy, lunes 8 de junio, el Dipòsit Digital no estará operativo de 15:00 a 17:00 h debido a tareas de mantenimiento. Disculpen las molestias.
Today, Monday, Jun 8th, the Digital Repository will be unavailable due to a system update.

Files

895448.pdf (1.05 MB)

Document type

Article

Version

Published version

Publication date

2025-10

Publication license

cc-by (c) Domènech Abella et al., 2025
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/227001

Workplace and non-workplace loneliness: a cross-sectional comparative study on risk factors and impacts on absenteeism and mental health among employees in Spain

Journal Title

Authors

Director/Tutor

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Related resource

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-025-02899-z

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study is to (1) evaluate prevalences and concordance between workplace and non-workplace loneliness, (2) compare sociodemographic risk factors between workplace and non-workplace loneliness, (3) compare working conditions-related risk factors between the two contexts of loneliness, and (4) compare the impact of workplace and nonworkplace loneliness on absenteeism, depression, anxiety and substance use disorder. Methods A sample of the employee residing in Spain (n=5400) was surveyed using computer-assisted web interviews (CAWI) during August and September 2024. Logistic regression models were constructed to compare the effects of risk factors for workplace and non-workplace loneliness (including sociodemographic factors, and factors related to working conditions), as well as the association of workplace and non-workplace loneliness on absenteeism, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. Results Among active workers, 40.7% report experiencing workplace loneliness, while 42.0% report non-workplace loneliness. The level of concordance between both types of loneliness is low (Kappa=0.36). Both types are more prevalent among younger and immigrant workers. Other sociodemographic risk factors (being female, non-married, and non-heterosexual) were significantly associated with non-workplace loneliness. Meanwhile, risk factors related to working conditions -particularly working under stress and labor precariousness- were associated with both types of loneliness, which showed an independent impact on absenteeism, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. Conclusion Most of the social determinants of workplace loneliness are rooted in the work environment, indicating that effective interventions should focus on addressing labor conditions and precariousness to improve both workplace and nonworkplace loneliness and their impacts on absenteeism and mental health.

Subject

Treball precari, Solitud, Absentisme laboral, Salut mental

Subject (English)

Precarious employment, Solitude, Absenteeism (Labor), Mental health

Citation

Collections

Articles publicats en revistes (Sociologia)
Articles publicats en revistes (Medicina)

Citation

DOMÈNECH ABELLA, Joan, et al. Workplace and non-workplace loneliness: a cross-sectional comparative study on risk factors and impacts on absenteeism and mental health among employees in Spain. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2025. Vol. 60, num. 2289-2299. ISSN 0933-7954. [consulted: 8 of June of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/227001

Export metadata

JSON - METS

Share record