A bibliometric analysis of psychological burnout and emotional exhaustion among remote employees during Covid-19

Abstract

This study analyzed 165 scientific papers from Scopus spanning the years 2005 to 2023 to understand how remote work affects people's mental well-being. The researchers focused on keywords like Covid-19, Burnout, and Mental Health to guide their investigation. They found that research on remote work's impact has significantly increased following the Covid-19 pandemic, emphasizing how the global health crisis has worsened work burnout and emotional exhaustion. The study also considered various aspects of mental health, providing a comprehensive perspective. The report sheds light on the important contributions made by influential authors and institutions from different countries. The United States stands out in this area due to its significant influence in the global labor market and the widespread issue of psychological burnout in remote work. The researchers evaluated key publications, such as the work by Sardeshmukh et al. on telecommuting and job engagement, and conducted an analysis of research trends, types of papers, and citation patterns. They identified the Journal of Applied Psychology as a valuable source of information. Visual representations created with VOSviewer helped to simplify complex networks and themes, revealing patterns of co-citations and collaborative efforts. The study emphasizes the need for targeted measures to promote the mental well-being of remote workers, especially considering the amplifying effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. This comprehensive analysis aims to assist scholars, practitioners, and policymakers in developing strategies to build a resilient, satisfied, and productive remote workforce on a global scale.

JEL classifications: M10, I31

Keywords: Telework, work from home, burnout, emotional exhaustion, scopus