Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, particularly in India’s Information Technology (IT) sector, introducing the “Remote Paradox” of flexibility versus increased stress. This study examines the impact of remote work on stress and mental health among Indian IT professionals, a critical yet understudied population. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 161 IT professionals aged 23–58 years, recruited via convenience and snowball sampling through online platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, WhatsApp). A validated questionnaire, including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), assessed workload, work-life balance, coping strategies, and mental health outcomes. Statistical analysis, including Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and logistic regression, were performed using SPSS and Excel. Higher DASS-21 stress scores were associated with a 12.1% increased likelihood of adverse mental health outcomes (Adjusted Odds Ratio=1.121, p=0.003). Females reported significantly higher stress (mean rank=104.03), depression (101.74), and anxiety (101.44) than males (p

Key words: Mental health, Psychological stresses, Remote work, Teleworking, Work-life balance, Work-life conflict