Workaholism and work-family spillover in a cross-occupational sample

an article by Cecilie Schou Andreassen (University of Bergen, Norway and The Bergen Clinics Foundation, Norway) and Jørn Hetland and Ståle Pallesen (University of Bergen, Norway) published in European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology Volume 22 Number 1 (February 2013)

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between three components of workaholism (work involvement, drive, enjoyment of work) and work-family spillover.

A cross-occupational sample consisting of 661 Norwegian employees from six different organisations responded to a Web-based questionnaire measuring workaholism and work-family spillover.

A short and revised version of the WorkBAT showed that work involvement was positively related to both positive family-to-work spillover and to negative work-to-family spillover.

Drive was positively related to both negative work-to-family and negative family-to-work spillover, and negatively related to positive work-to-family spillover.

Enjoyment of work was positively associated with positive work-to-family and positive family-to-work spillover.

Workaholism is clearly related to spillover. The findings imply that interventions for workers scoring high on work involvement and drive should be emphasised as these dimensions were associated with negative spillover. More research on this area is warranted.

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