THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORKAHOLISM DEFINED AS AN ADDICTION AND A BEHAVIORAL TENDENCY AND WORK-FAMILY CONFLICT

Background: The aim of this research was to analyze the relationship between workaholism (defined as an addiction and a behavioral tendency) and intensity of work/family conflict (WFC/FWC). Material and Methods: A group of 178 employees was surveyed three times in one year: six months before the annual leave, just after its termination and six months after annual leave. The Scale of Being Absorbed by Work (Skala Zaabsorbowania Praca - SZAP) by Golinska was applied to measure workaholism defined as an addiction, and the Scale of Workaholism as Behavioral Tendencies (SWBT) by Mudrack and Naughton to measure workaholism defined as a behavioral tendency. In addition, the Scale of Work-Family Conflict by Netemayer was used as another diagnostic tool. Results and Conclusions: The results of the survey showed statistically significant positive relationship between workaholisrn measured by SZAP and the intensity of work-family conflict (WFC/FWC) at each stage of the study, while workaholism measured by SWBT did not reveal such a relationship. The results indicate a significant role of the applied Scale of Being Absorbed by Work in understanding the effects of workaholism. Med Pr 2012;63(2):199-209