Workaholism and occupational health: A translational review

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to provide a detailed review of workaholism, a topic within the realm of Occupational Health Psychology. Workaholism has become a commonplace term used in the popular culture to depict individuals who are addicted to work. It is typically characterized as an addiction and defined as the compulsive tendency to work excessively hard. Given the deleterious effects of workaholism, this article provides a review of what we know about this phenomenon, as well as how we can combat it. First, an overview of workaholism is presented, including definitions and measures, followed by a discussion on antecedents (personality factors and work environment) and correlates in the organizational, individual, and family domains. Next, a section on combatting levels of workaholism is summarized. Finally, avenues for future research on this topic are discussed. Essentially, this review article will add to the existing literature on Industrial/Organizational Psychology and health issues associated with organizational behavior, as well as serve as a resource for both researchers and practitioners who strive to enhance the well-being of their employees.