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Workload, Workaholism, and Job Performance: Uncovering Their Complex Relationship

Author

Listed:
  • Paola Spagnoli

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Nicholas J. Haynes

    (Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA)

  • Liliya Scafuri Kovalchuk

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Malissa A. Clark

    (Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA)

  • Carmela Buono

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Cristian Balducci

    (Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

The current study aimed to test how workload, via workaholism, impacts job performance along with the complex interplay of perfectionistic concerns and work engagement in this mediated relationship. A two-wave, first and second stage dual-moderated mediation model was tested in an SEM framework. Results based on a sample of 208 workers revealed a complex and nuanced relationship among the studied constructs, such that the simple mediation model was not significant, but the indirect effect was negative, nonsignificant, or positive conditional on both moderators. The results offer interesting theoretical and practical implications for future studies to be conducted in this area of research. In particular, lower levels of perfectionistic concerns were associated with a positive relationship between workload and workaholism, and lower levels of work engagement were related to a negative link between workaholism and job performance. Findings suggest work engagement should be monitored and promoted by managers, especially when workload, and consequently, the possible risk of workaholism, cannot be avoided.

Suggested Citation

  • Paola Spagnoli & Nicholas J. Haynes & Liliya Scafuri Kovalchuk & Malissa A. Clark & Carmela Buono & Cristian Balducci, 2020. "Workload, Workaholism, and Job Performance: Uncovering Their Complex Relationship," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6536-:d:410539
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paweł A. Atroszko & Zsolt Demetrovics & Mark D. Griffiths, 2020. "Work Addiction, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, Burn-Out, and Global Burden of Disease: Implications from the ICD-11," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.
    2. Gary S. Becker, 1964. "Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis with Special Reference to Education, First Edition," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number beck-5, February.
    3. Alessandra Falco & Damiano Girardi & Annamaria Di Sipio & Vincenzo Calvo & Cristina Marogna & Raphael Snir, 2020. "Is Narcissism Associated with Heavy Work Investment? The Moderating Role of Workload in the Relationship between Narcissism, Workaholism, and Work Engagement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-23, July.
    4. 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.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cristian Balducci & Luca Menghini & Paul M. Conway & Hermann Burr & Sara Zaniboni, 2022. "Workaholism and the Enactment of Bullying Behavior at Work: A Prospective Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Alessandra Falco & Damiano Girardi & Alessandro De Carlo & Cecilie Schou Andreassen & Laura Dal Corso, 2022. "Work Addiction among Bank Employees in Italy: A Contribution to Validation of the Bergen Work Addiction Scale with a Focus on Measurement Invariance across Gender and Managerial Status," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Dumitrescu Liliana & Deselnicu Dana-Corina & Lacuta Valentina Diana & Danciu Bogdan-Vasile, 2023. "Satisfaction and Performance of Romanian Employees Working in the Accountancy and Human Resources Fields," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 17(1), pages 2119-2131, July.
    4. Modesta Morkevičiūtė & Auksė Endriulaitienė, 2023. "The Role of an Individual and a Situation in Explaining Work Addiction: Disclosing Complex Relations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-22, March.
    5. Cristian Balducci & Paola Spagnoli & Malissa Clark, 2020. "Advancing Workaholism Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-4, December.

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