Author:
Berta Krisztina,Pesthy Zsuzsanna Viktória,Vékony Teodóra,Farkas Bence C.,Németh Dezső,Kun Bernadette
Abstract
AbstractThe objective of this study was to examine, for the first time, the neuropsychological aspects of work addiction, with a specific emphasis on the cognitive factors identified by theoretical models. While previous research has highlighted self-reported obsessiveness and impulsiveness in work addiction, this study sought to go beyond self-report measures by employing also neuropsychological reaction time tasks to assess executive functions. A total of 101 participants were categorized into two groups based on their Work Addiction Risk Test scores: a high-risk group (HWA; n = 39) and a low-risk group (LWA; n = 62) for work addiction. Executive functions were assessed using Go/No-Go, Digit Span, Counting Span, N-back, and Card Sorting Tasks. The findings revealed that the HWA group had poorer inhibitory control and achieved lower scores on the more complex working memory task involving updating (2-back). However, they exhibited unaltered cognitive flexibility and outperformed the LWA group on the 1-back task associated with maintenance and storage of information and sustained attention. Higher levels of impulsiveness and compulsiveness were observed in the HWA group, consistent with previous studies. These findings highlight the role of inhibition and working memory in work addiction, potentially contributing to challenges such as inefficient working strategies and impaired social functioning. This study offers valuable insights into the neurocognitive aspects of work addiction, deepening our understanding of this phenomenon.
Funder
New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund
Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office
ANR grant awarded within the framework of the Inserm CPJ
The National Brain Research Program by Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference98 articles.
1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
2. World Health Organization. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. 11th revision beta draft. (2018).
3. Kang, S. Workaholism in Korea: Prevalence and socio-demographic differences. Front. Psychol. 11, 32 (2020).
4. Andreassen, C. S. et al. The prevalence of workaholism: A survey study in a nationally representative sample of Norwegian employees. PLoS ONE 9, e102446 (2014).
5. Kun, B., Magi, A., Felvinczi, K., Demetrovics, Z. & Paksi, B. A munkafüggoség szociodemográfiai és pszichés háttere, elterjedtsége a hazai felnott lakosság körében: Egy országos reprezentatív felmérés eredményei. Psychiatr. Hung. 35, 289–306 (2020).