Date of Award

6-12-2024

Publication Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Academia;Health;Wellness;Workaholism

Supervisor

Dennis Jackson

Abstract

The current study aimed to identify different subtypes of workaholics based on a combination of work engagement, motivation, perfectionism and job insecurity variables, and compare them on health and wellness outcomes. Perceptions of work-life balance, organizational culture and organizational climate were also examined to better understand the relationship between workaholic subtypes and their outcomes. A sample of n = 280 academics from universities in Ontario responded to an online self-report questionnaire. Cluster analysis showed the presence of three distinct workaholic subtypes that were named Engaged Workaholics, Perfectionist Workaholics and Job Insecure Workaholics. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed significant differences between the clusters on health and wellness dimensions, whereby Engaged Workaholics reported significantly better outcomes compared to the other subtypes. Mediation analyses showed that lower levels of perceived work-life balance and higher levels of perceived work pressure culture explained poorer health and wellness outcomes, particularly for Job Insecure Workaholics. Moreover, it was shown that workaholic subtypes experienced different barriers to teaching and research, and attributed feelings of overwork to a variety of factors. This study is a first attempt to empirically distinguish workaholic subtypes based on personal and situational factors and provides evidence that different types of workaholics exist and outcomes are not the same for all. Findings of this work have important implications for employees and organizations, and could be used to inform policies and initiatives targeted at building healthy workplaces.

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