Scenario 3 Roommates in a Shared Apartment 2 Room HDB Flat: 3 Working Adults
3.2.2 Implications on Mental Wellbeing Consequentially, the lack of privacy due to prolonged periods of home confinement can also lead to family conflicts. Family members are forced to tolerate the differences in each other’s lifestyles and work patterns, resulting in increasing tensions. For instance, working parents have reportedly increased in stress levels due to having to multitask between WFH and caring for their young children (Yip, 2020). More young working adults are also turning to short-term rental housing for greater freedom and privacy due to family complaints over their preference to work at night. (Wong, 2020) According to a survey by the Mind Science Centre, WFH has affected the mental resilience of younger professionals even more so than front-lines workers. Many experienced “psychological effects that come with social isolation, boredom, resistance to authority and family tensions” (Tai, 2020) due to the disruption of routines. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has also reported that there is also an overall increase of demand for mental health support services (Hui, 2020). Extended periods of confinement can also result in the feeling of ‘cabin fever’. (gov.sg, 2020)
14 Neo-Workhome
