Introduction

Our society’s characteristics, with their constant evolution and globalization, have shown a significant impact on the way jobs have been structured over the years, with one of the most highlighted aspects being the possibility of practicing telecommuting. The prevalence of telecommuting and other forms of remote work enabled by technological innovations has increased in recent years.

Objectives

Exploring the most recently published literature on telecommuting; examining its relationship with psychosocial risk factors and making inferences about the need for the implementation and improvement of policies aimed at promoting mental health in occupational settings, with a focus on preventing psychosocial risks.

Methodology

Integrative literature review using the terms "teleworking," "remote work," "telework," "telecommuting," "psychosocial risks," "mental health," and "occupational health" in both Portuguese and English. The primary databases used for the research included Pubmed, UpToDate, Clinical Key, Medscape, World Health Organization, International Labour Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Ocupacional” and “Direção Geral de Saúde”. A total of 24 documents with the highest relevance to the study’s theme were selected, published between 2010 and 2023.

Discussion

Psychosocial risks in telecommuting are undergoing constant changes and align with demographic, nature, content and organization. These changes may increase exposure to already recognized psychosocial risks or give rise to new emergent ones. The widespread and unexpected adoption of telecommuting due to COVID-19 with the simultaneous advancement of digitization processes have made telecommuting a more common practice. However, this mass adoption has increased instances of technological stress among workers, potentially leading to adverse consequences for mental health. While the widespread implementation of telecommuting aimed to protect workers from biological risks, it has, in various situations, increased social isolation, work-family conflicts, and a lack of social support, with negative consequences for the mental health of the working population.

Conclusion

The increasing of telecommuting in our society is leading to assess the psychosocial risk factors that arise with it, so that they are recognized by occupational health experts and intervened upon, thus ensuring that telecommuting becomes healthier.

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