IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/aes/amfeco/v22y2020ispecial14p1301.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Heavy Work Investment and Psychopathology: Internalizing and Externalizing Disorders as Antecedents and Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Yura Loscalzo

    (University of Florence, Florence, Italy)

  • Marco Giannini

    (University of Florence, Florence, Italy)

Abstract

Workaholism and work engagement are two types of Heavy Work Investment (HWI) that have been widely studied. However, the literature on the role of internalizing and externalizing disorders as antecedents and outcomes of these two types of HWI is scant. This study aims to analyze, through two path models, if workaholism and work engagement predict the main forms of psychopathology as evaluated through the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R). Also, it analyzes if psychopathology and sensation seeking predict workaholism and work engagement to shed light on the internalizing and/or externalizing nature of workaholism. Besides the two path models, we also performed MANOVAs and Mann-Whitney tests to analyze differences in psychopathology and sensation seeking between workers with high and low levels of workaholism and work engagement, as well as between disengaged and engaged workaholics. The participants are 690 Italian workers (44.8% males) with a mean age of 38.99±12.45. The results showed that workaholism predicts higher psychopathology, while work engagement predicts lower psychological symptoms. Though, even if depression and boredom susceptibility negatively predict work engagement, it is also positively predicted by somatization. Moreover, workaholism is positively predicted by psychoticism only. Therefore, this study suggests that workaholism might be defined as the declination at work of a personality disorder, and that work engagement might be a coping strategy for workers experiencing somatic symptoms. Finally, preventive interventions should target both workaholism and work engagement, as high work engagement does not seem to protect engaged workaholics from psychological impairment.

Suggested Citation

  • Yura Loscalzo & Marco Giannini, 2020. "Heavy Work Investment and Psychopathology: Internalizing and Externalizing Disorders as Antecedents and Outcomes," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 22(Special 1), pages 1301-1301, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aes:amfeco:v:22:y:2020:i:special14:p:1301
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.amfiteatrueconomic.ro/temp/Article_2964.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wilmar Schaufeli & Marisa Salanova & Vicente González-romá & Arnold Bakker, 2002. "The Measurement of Engagement and Burnout: A Two Sample Confirmatory Factor Analytic Approach," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 71-92, March.
    2. Ko Matsudaira & Akihito Shimazu & Tomoko Fujii & Kazumi Kubota & Takayuki Sawada & Norimasa Kikuchi & Masaya Takahashi, 2013. "Workaholism as a Risk Factor for Depressive Mood, Disabling Back Pain, and Sickness Absence," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(9), pages 1-8, September.
    3. Akihito Shimazu & Wilmar B Schaufeli & Kazumi Kubota & Kazuhiro Watanabe & Norito Kawakami, 2018. "Is too much work engagement detrimental? Linear or curvilinear effects on mental health and job performance," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Haar, Jarrod & Roche, Maree, 2013. "Three-way interaction effects of workaholism on employee well-being: Evidence from blue-collar workers in New Zealand," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(2), pages 134-149, March.
    5. Kamila Wojdylo & Nicola Baumann & Lis Fischbach & Stefan Engeser, 2014. "Live to Work or Love to Work: Work Craving and Work Engagement," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(10), pages 1-7, October.
    6. Cecilie Schou Andreassen & Mark D Griffiths & Rajita Sinha & Jørn Hetland & Ståle Pallesen, 2016. "The Relationships between Workaholism and Symptoms of Psychiatric Disorders: A Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-19, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yura Loscalzo & Marco Giannini, 2022. "Studyholism and Study Engagement in Adolescence: The Role of Social Anxiety and Interpretation Bias as Antecedents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Yura Loscalzo & Marco Giannini, 2022. "Heavy Study Investment: An Analysis of the Defense Mechanisms Characterizing Studyholism and Study Engagement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-25, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guohua He & Ran An & Feng Zhang, 2019. "Cultural Intelligence and Work–Family Conflict: A Moderated Mediation Model Based on Conservation of Resources Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Fabian Onyekachi Ugwu & Ibeawuchi K. Enwereuzor & Jens Mazei, 2023. "Is Working from Home a Blessing or a Burden? Home Demands as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Work Engagement and Work-Life Balance," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(1), pages 341-364, February.
    3. Paola Spagnoli & Cristian Balducci & Liliya Scafuri Kovalchuk & Francesco Maiorano & Carmela Buono, 2018. "Are Engaged Workaholics Protected against Job-Related Negative Affect and Anxiety before Sleep? A Study of the Moderating Role of Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Hyo Sun Jung & Kyung Hwa Seo & Hye Hyun Yoon, 2020. "The Importance of Leader Integrity on Family Restaurant Employees’ Engagement and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors: Exploring Sustainability of Employees’ Generational Differences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-12, March.
    5. Mader, Xana & Santos, Joana & Gonçalves, Gabriela, 2018. "Job Satisfaction In A Tourist Resort In Portugal," Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, Cinturs - Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, University of Algarve, vol. 6(3), pages 314-325.
    6. AHMED Umair & SHAH Saeed Abbas & QURESHI Muhammad Asif & SHAH Muzafar Hussain & KHUWAJA Faiz Muhammad, 2018. "Nurturing Innovation Performance Through Corporate Entrepreneurship: The Moderation Of Employee Engagement," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 13(2), pages 20-30, August.
    7. Serdar Çop & Victor Oluwafemi Olorunsola & Uju Violet Alola, 2021. "Achieving environmental sustainability through green transformational leadership policy: Can green team resilience help?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 671-682, January.
    8. Onintze Letona-Ibañez & Silvia Martinez-Rodriguez & Nuria Ortiz-Marques & Maria Carrasco & Alejandro Amillano, 2021. "Job Crafting and Work Engagement: The Mediating Role of Work Meaning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
    9. Paula van Dommelen & Jennifer K Coffeng & Hidde P van der Ploeg & Allard J van der Beek & Cécile R L Boot & Ingrid J M Hendriksen, 2016. "Objectively Measured Total and Occupational Sedentary Time in Three Work Settings," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-13, March.
    10. Rana Muhammad Shahid Yaqub & Nazim Hussain & Shanayyara Mahmood & Zahra Farooq, 2021. "Linking Compensation, Employee Engagement, Employee Loyalty And Organizational Performance: The Mediating Role Of Organization Commitment," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 10(3), pages 17-32.
    11. Adnan Ahmed Sheikh & Aneeq Inam & Anila Rubab & Usama Najam & Naeem Ahmad Rana & Hayat Muhammad Awan, 2019. "The Spiritual Role of a Leader in Sustaining Work Engagement: A Teacher-Perceived Paradigm," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(3), pages 21582440198, July.
    12. KURODA Sachiko & YAMAMOTO Isamu, 2016. "Does Mental Health Matter for Firm Performance? Evidence from longitudinal Japanese firm data," Discussion papers 16016, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    13. Modesta Morkevičiūtė & Auksė Endriulaitienė, 2022. "Understanding Work Addiction in Adult Children: The Effect of Addicted Parents and Work Motivation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-15, September.
    14. Satria Maulana Putra & Mahdani Ibrahim & Amri, 2020. "The Effects of Organizational Socialization Tactics on Newcomer Job Satisfaction and Engagement: Does Core Self-Evaluation Important?," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 8(1), pages 558-568, June.
    15. Wenström, Sanna & Uusiautti, Satu & Määttä, Kaarina, 2018. ""The force that keeps you going": Enthusiasm in vocational education and training (VET) teachers' work," International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training (IJRVET), European Research Network in Vocational Education and Training (VETNET), European Educational Research Association, vol. 5(4), pages 244-263.
    16. Karanges, Emma Ruth & Beatson, Amanda & Johnston, Kim & Lings, Ian, 2014. "Optimizing employee engagement with internal communication: A social exchange perspective," jbm - Journal of Business Market Management, Free University Berlin, Marketing Department, vol. 7(2), pages 329-353.
    17. Silvia De Simone & Gianfranco Cicotto & Roberto Cenciotti & Laura Borgogni, 2021. "Perceptions of Social Context and Intention to Quit: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement and Interpersonal Strain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-14, July.
    18. Akyürek Suat & Can Ülker & Kiliçalp Miray, 2023. "The mediating role of work engagement on the relationship between interpersonal adaptability and dealing with uncertain and unpredictable work situations," European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 142-153, December.
    19. Jose Joaquin Pozo-Antúnez & Horacio Molina-Sánchez & Antonio Ariza-Montes & Francisco Fernández-Navarro, 2021. "Promoting work Engagement in the Accounting Profession: a Machine Learning Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 653-670, September.
    20. Mamta Mohapatra & Baldev R. Sharma, 2010. "Study of Employee Engagement and its Predictors in an Indian Public Sector Undertaking," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 11(2), pages 281-301, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    anxiety; depression; psychiatric disorders; workaholism; work addiction; work engagement; sensation seeking.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:aes:amfeco:v:22:y:2020:i:special14:p:1301. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Valentin Dumitru (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/aseeero.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.