Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 220-245 |
| Number of pages | 26 |
| Journal | Journal of Behavioral Addictions |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 28 Mar 2025 |
Keywords
- Bergen Work Addiction Scale
- compulsive overworking
- cross-cultural
- validation study
- work addiction
- workaholism
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In: Journal of Behavioral Addictions, Vol. 14, No. 1, 28.03.2025, p. 220-245.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - The International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS): A screening tool for clinical and organizational applications validated in 85 cultures from six continents
AU - Fernández Pintos, María Eugenia
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s).
PY - 2025/3/28
Y1 - 2025/3/28
N2 - Background and aims: Despite the last decade’s significant development in the scientific study of work addiction/workaholism, this area of research is still facing a fundamental challenge, namely the need for a valid and reliable measurement tool that shows cross-cultural invariance and, as such, allows for worldwide studies on this phenomenon. Methods: An initial 16-item questionnaire, developed within an addiction framework, was administered alongside job stress, job satisfaction, and self-esteem measures in a total sample of 31,352 employees from six continents and 85 cultures (63.5% females, mean age of 39.24 years). Results: Based on theoretical premises and psychometric testing, the International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS) was developed as a short measure representing essential features of work addiction. The seven-item version (IWAS-7), covering all seven components of work addiction, showed partial scalar invariance across 81 cultures, while the five-item version (IWAS-5) showed it across all 85 cultures. Higher levels of work addiction on both versions were associated with higher job stress, lower job satisfaction, and lower self-esteem across cultures. The optimal cut-offs for the IWAS-7 (24 points) and IWAS-5 (18 points) were established with an overall accuracy of 96% for both versions. Discussion and conclusions: The IWAS is a valid, reliable, and short screening scale that can be used in different cultures and languages, providing comparative and generalizable results. The scale can be used globally in clinical and organizational settings, with the IWAS-5 being recommended for most practical and clinical situations. This is the first study to provide data supporting the hypothesis that work addiction is a universal phenomenon worldwide
AB - Background and aims: Despite the last decade’s significant development in the scientific study of work addiction/workaholism, this area of research is still facing a fundamental challenge, namely the need for a valid and reliable measurement tool that shows cross-cultural invariance and, as such, allows for worldwide studies on this phenomenon. Methods: An initial 16-item questionnaire, developed within an addiction framework, was administered alongside job stress, job satisfaction, and self-esteem measures in a total sample of 31,352 employees from six continents and 85 cultures (63.5% females, mean age of 39.24 years). Results: Based on theoretical premises and psychometric testing, the International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS) was developed as a short measure representing essential features of work addiction. The seven-item version (IWAS-7), covering all seven components of work addiction, showed partial scalar invariance across 81 cultures, while the five-item version (IWAS-5) showed it across all 85 cultures. Higher levels of work addiction on both versions were associated with higher job stress, lower job satisfaction, and lower self-esteem across cultures. The optimal cut-offs for the IWAS-7 (24 points) and IWAS-5 (18 points) were established with an overall accuracy of 96% for both versions. Discussion and conclusions: The IWAS is a valid, reliable, and short screening scale that can be used in different cultures and languages, providing comparative and generalizable results. The scale can be used globally in clinical and organizational settings, with the IWAS-5 being recommended for most practical and clinical situations. This is the first study to provide data supporting the hypothesis that work addiction is a universal phenomenon worldwide
KW - Bergen Work Addiction Scale
KW - compulsive overworking
KW - cross-cultural
KW - validation study
KW - work addiction
KW - workaholism
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105002303417
U2 - 10.1556/2006.2025.00005
DO - 10.1556/2006.2025.00005
M3 - Artículo
SN - 2062-5871
VL - 14
SP - 220
EP - 245
JO - Journal of Behavioral Addictions
JF - Journal of Behavioral Addictions
IS - 1
ER -