Dependence on work (Workaholism): how to deal with it

The term Workaholism (dependence on work) was introduced by Oates in 1971 by combining the word “work” and the word “alcoholism” to describe dependence on work. Schaufeli, Taris, and Bakker (2008) defined the Workaholism as “the tendency to work excessively in a compulsive way”. To be able to talk about dependence on work The simultaneous comprehensive of working behaviors tending to excess and an inner thrust (compulsion) that guides the individual towards these excesses is required.

The Workaholism He was associated with a real behavioral addiction (Rohrlich, 1981; Fassel, 1992; Robinson, 1998b, 2001; Albrecht, Kirschner, & Grusser, 2007). According to Griffiths (2005; 2011) there are six typical criteria of other forms of dependence:

1. Salience: work represents the most important activity of a person’s life, dominating their thoughts and behaviors even outside the places and working times.
2. Mood transformation: the work is associated with mood states that may vary from excitement to sadness to tranquility.
3. Tolerance: the employee of work feels forced to gradually and gradually increase the amount of time spent working activities.
4. Abstinence: The employee undergoes negatively, on a physical and psychological level (irritability, changes in mood) the situations in which he is not allowed to work (periods of holidays, the disease, etc …).
5. Conflicts: gradually emerges a difficulty in interpersonal relationships (colleagues, family, friends). The person with work dependence can begin to be criticized by others for his difficulty in “detaching” from work.
6. Fell: After periods when the worker managed to manage his dependence on work activities, he falls into excessive behavior.

Prior to work dependence of employment

In a paradigm that sees the Workaholism as an addiction, the behaviors of dependence on work They may have the psychological function of avoiding negative feelings (Porter, 1996) or to regulate their intensity. Even being characterized by values ​​oriented to the achievement of objectives (to the detriment of interpersonal, relational objectives) can lead to addressing their efforts to working success, with high levels of ambition (Schwartz, 1992).

Social-cultural pregnants of the Workaholism

Some studies (Matthews & Halbrook, 1990) report how people from “dysfunctional” families will be more likely to seek highly stressful types of work as they are now accustomed to stress factors within the home. In the same way, even vicar learning (Bandura, 1986) can lead to imitating type behaviors Workaholic. In this case, people can be influenced by roles and figures within the family (parents, peers, friends, other significant people) or in organizational-work contexts, such as superiors, mentors or in general colleagues (NG et al., 2007).

Dependence on work and personality aspects

Clark, Livesley, Schroeder, & Irish (1996) found a positive correlation between Workaholism and characteristics of obsessive compulsive personality. To be significant from a diagnostic point of view, this link must manifest itself in every area of ​​the patient’s life (family, friends, sentimental relationship …) and not exclusively in work activities.

Symptomatological consequences of Workaholism

The subjects employees from work They report more critical values, respects other workers profiles, as regards the sphere of physical and psychological health. In particular, major psychosomatic symptoms and less physical and emotional well -being can manifest (McMillan et al., 2001).

Consequences on the psychological well -being of work dependence

The excessive energies entered in their work activities by Workaholic seem to affect the goodness of interpersonal relationships both within work organizations and in everyday life. Some authors have identified a negative relationship between Workaholism and conflict between colleagues (Porter, 2001) and on the family side (Robinson & Post, 1997; Robinson, 1998a; Robinson, Flowers, & Carrol, 2001). In general, literature on the subject highlights how i employees from work They present: sensitive difficulty in communication, poor participation in family activities and generally less emotional involvement in relationships.

Psychotherapeutic treatment of dependence on work

The psychotherapeutic path should include a preliminary psychiatric evaluation, aimed at planning a possible psychopharmacological treatment in support of the psychological intervention.

In any case, psychotherapy should focus on helping the patient to develop or enhance: empathy, relational opening, ability to identify, recognize and then express emotions, mentalize and regulate the affections using them in the field of personal relationships adequately aiming for greater inner autonomy, and not only to the apparent independence.

Family or couple therapy can be useful to reconstruct communication, reintegrate trust between subjects and encourage intimacy through emotional sharing. Auto-help groups can play an important role, as they allow the person to experience the sense of belonging, the importance of living interpersonal relationships, make others live as interested and allow to establish authentic relationships. The individual psychotherapy treatment of patient with work addiction should support the patient in:

1. Become aware of the reasons that led to addiction;
2. Promote the ability to manage daily events and problems;
3. Develop an intimacy capacity with itself and with others,
4. Acquire communication and social skills;
5. Prevent relapses by identifying activating stimuli and symptoms;
6. Learn the avoidance of the repercussions;
7. Understand the process of dependence and be aware of it.

• Behavioral addictions