Workaholism as a Mediator between Work-Related Stressors and Health Outcomes

• Main Authors: Cecilie Schou Andreassen, Ståle Pallesen, Torbjørn Torsheim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: workaholism; job demand–control–social support; effort–reward imbalance; burnout; insomnia; general health
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/1/73

It is currently unknown if unfavorable working conditions, reflected by the demand–control–support model and the effort–reward imbalance model, directly influence health or if the effects may be mediated by work-related attitudes and behaviors such as workaholism. In the present study, 988 employees (55.6% males, mean age 36.09, SD = 9.23) from a large consultant firm participated in a cross-sectional survey assessing work variables such as job demands, job control, social support, effort, reward, and overcommitment. Workaholism was also assessed together with eight different health-related outcomes. Although direct effects of the work stressors on health were found on most health outcomes, the work-related stressors were overall strongly related to workaholism (R2 = 0.522), which, in turn, was positively related to four (anxiety/insomnia, somatic symptoms, emotional exhaustion, and social dysfunction) of the eight outcome variables. Of a total of 40 relationships between work-related stressors and health outcomes, workaholism fully mediated three of these, and partly mediated 12. Overall, the study suggests that the effects of work-related stressors on health in many cases may be mediated by workaholism.