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. 2017 Oct 19:8:1803.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01803. eCollection 2017.

Organizing the Confusion Surrounding Workaholism: New Structure, Measure, and Validation

Or Shkoler  1 , Edna Rabenu  1 , Cristinel Vasiliu  2 , Gil Sharoni  1 , Aharon Tziner  1
Affiliations

Organizing the Confusion Surrounding Workaholism: New Structure, Measure, and Validation

Or Shkoler et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Since "workaholism" was coined, a considerable body of research was conducted to shed light on its essence. After at least 40 years of studying this important phenomenon, a large variety of definitions, conceptualizations, and measures emerged. In order to try and bring more integration and consensus to this construct, the current research was conducted in two phases. We aimed to formulate a theoretical definitional framework for workaholism, capitalizing upon the Facet Theory Approach. Two basic facets were hypothesized: A. Modalities of workaholism, with three elements: cognitive, emotional, and instrumental; and B. Resources of workaholism with two elements: time and effort. Based on this definitional framework, a structured questionnaire was conceived. In the first phase, the new measure was validated with an Israeli sample comparing two statistical procedures; Factor Analysis (FA) and Smallest Space Analysis (SSA). In the second phase, we aimed to replicate the findings, and to contrast the newly-devised questionnaire with other extant workaholism measures, with a Romanian sample. Theoretical implications and future research suggestions are discussed.

Keywords: cultural differences; facet; measurement; research methods; work drive; workaholism.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mapping sentence definition of workaholism.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The roles of the facets.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SSA common space diagram for modalities facet (A) of the WFBS, Israel. Solid line, Cognitive (a1); dotted, Instrumental (a3); dashed, Emotional (a2).
Figure 4
Figure 4
SSA common space diagram for modalities facet (A) of the WFBS, Romania. Solid line, Cognitive (a1); dotted, Instrumental (a3); dashed, Emotional (a2).
Figure 5
Figure 5
SSA common space diagram for resources facet (B) of the WFBS, Israel. Light-filled surface, Time (b1); Dark-filled surface, Effort (b2).
Figure 6
Figure 6
SSA common space diagram for resources facet (B) of the WFBS, Romania. Light-filled surface, Time (b1); Dark-filled surface, Effort (b2).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Total SSA common space diagram for the WFBS, Israel. Solid line, Cognitive (a1); dotted, Instrumental (a3); dashed, Emotional (a2). Light-filled surface, Time (b1); Dark-filled surface, Effort (b2). Stress = 0.05 (SMACOF).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Total SSA common space diagram for the WFBS, Romania. Solid line, Cognitive (a1); dotted, Instrumental (a3); dashed, Emotional (a2). Light-filled surface, Time (b1); Dark-filled surface, Effort (b2). Stress; 0.05 (SMACOF).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Total 3D SSA common space diagram (vertical) for the WFBS, Israel.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Total 3D SSA common space diagram (horizontal) for the WFBS, Israel.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Total 3D SSA common space diagram (vertical) for the WFBS, Romania.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Total 3D SSA common space diagram (horizontal) for the WFBS, Romania.
Figure 13
Figure 13
SSA common space diagram for the HWI measure, Romania. Stress = 0.04; Solid line, Working Intensely; dotted line, Time commitment.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Suggested conceptual map for doingism and workaholism. It is important to note that since the year 2000, the research about time investment has been vast (e.g., Dembe et al., ; Caruso, ; Suzuki et al., 2017), but is lacking in regards to the investment of effort (to the best of our knowledge; see Green, 2008), the proportions of the inner the elements in the figure may vary.
Figure 15
Figure 15
SSA common space diagram for the DUWAS measure, Romania. Stress = 0.06; Solid line, Working Compulsively; dotted line, Working Excessively.
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