WORK ADDICTION: THE MOST GLORIFIED ADDICTION, HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT - LAUREN M. BROYLES, PHD JUNE 30, 2021 - IRETA
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Work Addiction:
The Most Glorified
Addiction, Hiding
in Plain Sight
Lauren M. Broyles, PhD
June 30, 2021
Opening Poll Questions
Q1: What prompted your
interest in today’s webinar?
Q2: How familiar are you with
the concept of work addiction?
Q3: What are your overall
thoughts about work addiction?Orientation
Work addiction
Workaholism
Synonyms?
Productivity addiction
Adrenaline addictionDefine work addiction
Characterize work addiction as
activity and substance
Overview
Differentiate work addiction
from working hard• “Being overly concerned about work, to be
General Definitions of driven by an uncontrollable work
motivation, and to put so much energy and
effort into work that it impairs private
relationships, spare-time activities and/or
health” (Andreassen et al., J Managerial
Psych, 29(1), 2014)
Workaholism
• “An obsessive-compulsive disorder that
manifests itself through self-imposed
demands, an inability to regulate work
habits, and overindulgence in work to the
exclusion of most other life activities.”
(Robinson, Chained to the Desk, 2014)• “Being overly concerned about work, to be
General Definitions of driven by an uncontrollable work
motivation, and to put so much energy and
effort into work that it impairs private
relationships, spare-time activities and/or
health” (Andreassen et al., J Managerial
Psych, 29(1), 2014)
Workaholism
• “An obsessive-compulsive disorder that
manifests itself through self-imposed
demands, an inability to regulate work
habits, and overindulgence in work to the
exclusion of most other life activities.”
(Robinson, Chained to the Desk, 2014)Overdoing
(an activity)
A substance• “I took my family on beach vacations but was always ready to get back to work. I took a computer on vacation and had my staff FedEx me charts. I rationalized that I didn’t want to return to work with a pile on my desk. But truth be told, working gave me a high, making me feel important and needed in ways that nothing else could. Work transcended everything.” • “I didn’t need to use drugs because my bloodstream was manufacturing its own crystal meth.”
10 Red Flags for Work Addiction (Robinson)
• “For some reason I can’t just be average. I have to do more or be more than the ordinary person. I have to go over, beyond, above what other people do. It makes me feel like I’m OK.” • “I associate whether I have worth and value with what I achieve, and if I’m not achieving or producing, I have little value.” • “I know I’m overdoing it, but it’s like I think I can finally earn respect and my place among other people if I just work hard enough.”
• “Instead of thinking, “What can I realistically accomplish?” my mindset says, “What would be so great of an accomplishment that everybody (including me) would see how valuable I am?” • “I feel like people judge me on what I do, accomplish, achieve, and on the products I produce, and on my impact on the field…Anytime I set a goal for myself that I can actually achieve, I think, “That wasn’t worth it; that was nothing. So I create a higher goal…”
• “At first I felt good about [the accomplishment] but that lasted only about 20 minutes. Then I realized it was a fluke, and I’ll never be able to pull it off again. I’ve been able to fool people about how competent I am and now I have to work even harder to keep up the charade.” • “I’ve got this belief that I’m the only one who can do it right, or fast enough, and honestly, it charges me up, gives me a sense of superiority, and bolsters my self-esteem.” • “When I stay late at the office, after everybody else goes home, I’m quietly, resentfully fuming because my coworkers and subordinates aren’t doing the same thing.”
Work Addiction vs. Working Hard
https://www.managersorbit.com/workaholic-vs-hard-worker/
https://www.managersorbit.com/workaholic-vs-hard-worker/
Prevalence of Work • Generally agreed-upon estimate:
10% of the U.S. population
• College-educated individuals: 8 – 18%
• Female attorneys, physicians,
psychologists/therapists: 23 – 25%
Addiction
• Impact of other factors on prevalence?
Sussman et al., 2011, Eval Health Prof. 34(1): 3–56;
Sussman et al., 2013, J Addict Res Ther, Suppl 6(1): doi: 10.4172/2155-6105.S6-001
Andreassen et al., 2014, PLOS One: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0102446Co-occurrence with Other Addictions and Psychiatric Symptoms
Assessment of Work
Overview of formal and
informal assessment tools
AddictionFormal & Informal Formal
Assessment Tools •Work Addiction Risk Test (WART)
•Bergen Work Addiction Scale
•WorkBAT
Informal:
•Workaholics Anonymous 20
QuestionsWork Addiction Risk Test (WART)
• 25 items, 5 dimensions
Dimension Sample Item
Compulsive tendencies I seem to be in a hurry and racing against the clock
Control I get impatient when I have to wait for someone
else
Impaired communication/ I forget, ignore, or minimize important family
self-absorption celebrations
Inability to delegate I prefer to do most things myself rather than ask
for help
Self worth It is important that I see the concrete results of
what I do
Robinson, B.E. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 88, 199-210• 7 items reflecting 7 dimensions
Dimension Item
Salience Thought of how you could free up more time to work?
Mood modification Worked in order to reduce feelings of guilt, anxiety, helplessness and
depression?
Tolerance Spent much more time working than initially intended?
Withdrawal Become stressed if you have been prohibited from working?
Conflict Deprioritized hobbies, leisure activities, and exercise because of your work?
Relapse Been told by others to cut down on work without listening to them?
Problems Worked so much that it has negatively influenced your health?
Andreassen et al, Scandinavian J Psych, 2012, 53, 265–272• 25 items across 3 dimensions
Dimension Sample Item
Work Involvement When I have free time, I like to relax and do nothing
serious
Work Drive I seem to have an inner compulsion to work hard
Work Enjoyment I do more work than is expected of me strictly for the
fun of it
Spence & Robbins, J Personality Assess, 1992, 58, 160-178Anonymous 20 questions
Self-Assessment with the
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2011/
05/living/workaholic.test/index.html
WART & Workaholics
https://workaholics-anonymous.org/10-
literature/24-twenty-questionsSelf-Assessment Polling Work Addiction Risk Test (WART)
• Q1: On the WART, where did your score fall?
• Q2: What are your thoughts about or
reactions to your score?
Workaholics Anonymous Twenty
Questions
Questions
• Q3: How many items did you endorse with a
“Yes?”
• Q4: What are your thoughts about or
reactions to your score?Etiology & Functions of
Identify common psychosocial origins
and functions of work addiction
Intersection of addictive work
Work Addiction
cultures/environment
Identify common social rewards, and
consequences, of work addiction
Discuss family experience with work
addictionIndividual Factors:
Contributing Factors • Personality traits
• Dispositions (e.g., achievement orientation,
perfectionism, over-control of self and others)
• Work styles, patterns (e.g., stopping when
tired/work no longer enjoyable)
Home/Family/Sociocultural Experiences:
• Stressful/traumatic childhood
• Vicarious learning/modeling of work addiction at
home/work
• Intrinsic family/personal values re: work ethic
• Roles, responsibilitiesContributing Factors Behavioral Reinforcements
• Tangible & intangible rewards (money,
achievements, accolades, awards)
• “Winner takes all” system
• Organizational environment that
drives/promotes overworkWorkplace / Organizational
Contributing Factors Characteristics
• High demands / expectations / “norms” for
productivity, perfection
• High responsibility, unpredictable workflow
• High peer competition
• High autonomy
• Profit culture
• Perpetual crisis management
• Limited interpersonal intimacy
• Poor respect for boundaries
• Ethos or culture where work and productivity are
supreme over family, personal interests, “outside life”• Parental separation/divorce
• Devastating parental
Parentification
unemployment
• Parental SUD, mental illness
• Parental death, severe illness
• “Emotional incest”“Rewards” & Consequences of Work Addiction
Social/professional recognition, praise,
esteem
Sense of accomplishment, self-worth
Achievements, accolades, awards
Rewards?
Promotion
Salary increases/monetary gainsCompulsive thoughts and behavior; depression;
anxiety; anger; stress; burnout
Health problems and stress-related illnesses, incl.
insomnia and other addictions
Consequences
Marital and family conflict/strain/estrangement;
impaired communication
Workplace conflict with co-workers, supervisors,
subordinates
Accidents/injuriesFamily Experience with Work Addiction
Change, Healing, and Recovery
Change your mindset about work/priorities
Necessary but not
Learn to take breaks, scale back hours, set boundaries
Practical Steps:
Turn off your phone, computer, and email
Sufficient
Make time for friends, family, interests, hobbies
Take care of your body, exercise, meditate, get enough sleep3 Levels of Prevention
and Intervention Societal
Individual
OrganizationalCognitive/CBT
Therapeutic Strategies
& Modalities Motivational Interviewing
Psychotherapy/Psychodynamic Therapy
Marital/Family Therapy: address communication,
connection, attention, expectations, “enabling”
Behavioral Intervention TherapyMindfulness
“A Microchiller a Day Keeps the Stress Away”
Butterfly Hug exercise
MicrochillerWorkaholics Anonymous
Workaholics Anonymous: Bottom and Top Lines
I work no more than 6 days/week, and only between the hours
of 8am and 6pm.
I do not bring work to bed.
I wait a full 48 hours before agreeing to anything that’s more
Bottom Lines
than a one-time, 2-hour commitment.
I leave my workspace and eat lunch away from my desk.
I spend 15 minutes of quiet time each morning.I will spend one full day/week doing something fun with
my children/spouse/partner/friend.
I will schedule at least 10 minutes in between each
appointment or meeting in my day.
I will sleep at least 8 hours/night.
Top Lines
I will walk or engage in >30 minutes of other physical
activity every day.
I will spend >30 minutes each week doing a new hobby.Self: physical needs for rest/exercise/nutrition,
Work Moderation Plan attending to self-esteem, spiritual practices,
mediation
Relationships: spending time and connecting with
others, nurturing relationships
(Robinson)
Play: hobbies, leisure, recreation
Work: being effective, enjoying what you do,
working well with co-workers, taking time offSetting boundaries around work hours and # of
hours
Building in time cushions around
Other Practical
meetings/appointments/commute time
Strategies
Establishing parameters re: meals, movement, sleep
Your own idiosyncratic strategies!• Andreassen et al. 2012. Scandinavian J Psych, 53, 265–272
• Andreassen et al. 2016. PLOS One: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0102446
• Andreassen et al. 2018. Myths about “The myths about work addiction,”
J Behav Addict, 7(4): 858–862.
• Dr. Bryan Robinson’s website: https://bryanrobinsonbooks.com/
• Griffiths et al. 2018. Ten myths about work addiction, J Behav Addict, 7(4): 845–
857.
• In Recovery podcast, June 29, 2020; “The 13-Hour Workday”
https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/in-recovery-1005682/episodes/the-13-
hour-work-day-66201693
• Robinson, BE. 1999, Perceptual and Motor Skills, 88, 199-210.
References &
• Robinson, BE. 2014. Chained to the Desk: A Guidebook for Workaholics, Their
Partners and Children, and the Clinicians Who Treat Them. 3rd Ed.
Resources
• Russell, LD. 2011. Narrating the habits of workaholism and recovery: A
phenomenological investigation of embodied practice for well being. Dissertation:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1304516947
• The Self Compassionate Professor podcast, March 14, 2021; Episode 54:
“Addiction and Academic Women with Dr. Lauren Broyles:”
https://open.spotify.com/show/4xyHnwHuEXYUGxUO0TIXja (also on Apple)
• Spence, JT & Robbins, AS. 1992, J Personality Assess, 58, 160-178.
• Sussman et al., 2011, Eval Health Prof. 34(1): 3–56.
• Sussman et al., 2013, J Addict Res Ther, Suppl 6(1).
• Workaholics Anonymous: https://workaholics-anonymous.org/You can also read
