Characteristics of Workaholism Among Nurses in the Light of Research Conducted in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the phenomenon of workaholism among Polish nurses.

Background: Work may be deemed one of the fundamental or essential forms of human activity. In the case of nurses, the expected level of professional commitment and dedication is above average. This factor may be an important element contributing to developing workaholism, which in turn is a strong prognostic factor for adverse events in the workplace, an especial critical issue in nursing practice.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2016 to 2019. The research material consisted of 454 questionnaire forms completed by nurses with a confirmed high risk of workaholism.

Results: The mean values obtained in the study indicate the aspects as significant for characterizing the phenomenon of workaholism among nurses: Need for Predictability, Enthusiasm for Work, Impairment of Alternative, Extreme Dutifulness, Inability to Delegate, and Work Compulsion.

Conclusion: The results show that two aspects are particularly significant for characterizing workaholism among Polish nurses: Inability to Delegate and Work as Value. Impairment of Alternative Activities, Extreme Dutifulness, Distributed Social Relations and Awareness, Stress and Anxiety, Enthusiasm for work, Need for predictability, and Work Compulsion proved to be less significant factors of workaholism characteristics in the study group. Therefore, the research attention should primarily focus on two more characteristic areas, e.g., Inability to Delegate and Work as Value, starting with a proper understanding of those concepts.