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Workaholism as a Risk Factor for Depressive Mood, Disabling Back Pain, and Sickness Absence

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  • Ko Matsudaira
  • Akihito Shimazu
  • Tomoko Fujii
  • Kazumi Kubota
  • Takayuki Sawada
  • Norimasa Kikuchi
  • Masaya Takahashi

Abstract

Objectives: Although it is understood that work-related factors, including job demands, job control, and workplace support, are associated with workers' health and well-being, the role played by personal characteristics, especially workaholism, has not been fully investigated. This study examined workaholism's associations with psychological ill health, low back pain with disability, and sickness absence among Japanese workers. Methods: A cross-sectional Internet survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires. Data from 3,899 Japanese workers were analyzed. Workaholism was measured using the Dutch Workaholism Scale (DUWAS). Scores were divided into tertiles, where respondents were classified into three groups (high, middle, and low). Depressive mood as a measure of psychological ill health was assessed using the SF-36 mental health subscale, and low back pain using a standardized question. Sickness absence, except that due to physical injuries, was categorized either as absence due to mental health problems or to physical/somatic problems including the common cold. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between workaholism and depressive mood, low back pain with disability, and sickness absence, adjusting for demographic characteristics, job demand, job control, and workplace support. Results: Compared to the low workaholism group, the middle and high workaholism groups had significantly higher odds for depressive mood (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.93 and 3.62 for the middle and high groups, respectively), disabling back pain (ORs = 1.36 and 1.77 for the middle and high groups, respectively). Workaholism was more strongly associated with sickness absence due to mental health problems than that for other reasons (ORs = 1.76 vs. 1.21 for the middle group and 3.52 vs. 1.37 for the high groups). Conclusions: Workaholism is significantly associated with poor psychological health, disabling back pain, and sickness absence, particularly from mental health problems. Therefore, workaholism must be considered when addressing well-being of workers.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0075140
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075140
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Steven A. Brieger & Stefan Anderer & Andreas Fröhlich & Anne Bäro & Timo Meynhardt, 2020. "Too Much of a Good Thing? On the Relationship Between CSR and Employee Work Addiction," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(2), pages 311-329, October.
    3. 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.
    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.
    5. Cecilie Schou Andreassen & Ståle Pallesen & Torbjørn Torsheim, 2018. "Workaholism as a Mediator between Work-Related Stressors and Health Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, January.
    6. Takahiko Yoshimoto & Hiroyuki Oka & Junji Katsuhira & Tomoko Fujii & Katsuhiko Masuda & Sakae Tanaka & Ko Matsudaira, 2017. "Prognostic psychosocial factors for disabling low back pain in Japanese hospital workers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-12, May.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.

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