Assessing the Impact of the Shift to Remote Work Due to COVID-19 on Lifestyle of Russian Individuals

The paper investigates the impact of remote work arrangements on lifestyle aspects among Russian individuals, focusing on alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical exercise, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using panel data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey and employing fixed effects logit and 2SLS models with instrumental variables, this study tests three hypotheses: (1) the COVID-19 shock increased the likelihood of a permanent shift to remote work for Russian workers; (2) remote work reduced alcohol consumption and smoking among workers; and (3) remote work increased the frequency of regular exercise. The findings reveal mixed outcomes: the pandemic significantly increased remote work adoption but did not consistently reduce vices or increase exercise frequency. The study highlights the importance of contextual factors, such as regional disparities and cultural norms, in shaping the impact of remote work on health behaviors. These insights offer valuable implications for policymakers aiming to promote healthier lifestyles among remote workers and underscore the need for further interdisciplinary research.