Work Addiction: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Effects, and Treatment

Work addiction means taking part in work-related activities compulsively to the point that it affects one’s personal life. A person with work addiction stays preoccupied with work, loses sleep over work, worries over work performance, uses work as an escape, and is in constant fear of failure.

Childhood abuse and mental health disorders are at the root cause of developing work addiction. These causes push individuals to seek external validation through unhealthy means. 

Following the unhealthy means for validation affects the physical and mental health and family life of work addicts. Physical health issues manifest as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity, whereas mental health issues manifest as anxiety and depression. 

Work addiction is a type of behavioral addiction that severely damages family life. A lack of attention to loved ones results in fights and a stressful home environment. 

Thus, the treatment of work addiction is pivotal for a healthy life. A work addict can take therapy, medications, inpatient treatment, or join support groups.

What is work addiction?

Work addiction is the compulsion to work and preoccupation with work activities leading to harm and distress to an individual or close relationships, as defined in a study by Piotr Bereznowski et al. published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2023. 

Work addiction is a disorder characterized by self-induced work requirements, disability to control work habits, and disruption of routine life activities, as defined by Bryan E. Robinson, Claudia Flowers, and Kok-Mun Ng in a study published in The Family Journal in 2006.

What is the difference between work addiction and working hard?

The difference between work addiction and working hard is that work addiction means working until it affects the work-life balance, while working hard refers to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 

Individuals with work addiction put in long hours, work through sick days and vacations, and even ignore family events. In contrast, a hardworking individual knows when to take breaks and switch off.  

Work addicts have poor health, less life satisfaction, and more relationship problems compared to hard workers who spend quality time with close ones. Thus, work addiction leads to depression, while working hard leads to a healthy mind and body, according to Cristina Quinones and Mark D Griffiths’ study in the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services. 

What is the relation between work addiction and Workaholism?

The relation between work addiction and workaholism is that work addiction refers to the addiction framework, but workaholism is a generic term, as mentioned by Mark D. Griffiths et al. in a study published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions in 2018. 

The terms work addiction and workaholism are often used synonymously. However, work addiction is a psychological construct referring to the negative impact of excessive work. On the other hand, workaholism is a general concept referring to both positive and negative aspects of overworking. 

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Work addiction?

The signs and symptoms of work addiction are working excessively even when not needed, losing sleep over work, obsession with work, worrying over work performance, using work as an escape, fear of failure, and relationship deterioration, according to the studies published in Cross-Cultural Research, Industrial Health Journal, Journal of Business Ethics, PLOS One, and European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology.   

1. Working excessively even when not needed

Working excessively means working beyond the working hours, on weekends, and even when not necessary.

Individuals with work addiction spend excessive time on work. They regularly check their emails, are available all day for work-related tasks, and have difficulty saying no to additional work.  

Workaholics work beyond the organizational demands and financial needs, writes Wilmar Schaufeli, professor of Work and Organizational Psychology, in his study published in Cross-Cultural Research in 2009. 

2. Losing sleep over work

Losing sleep means to worry about something so much that you cannot sleep. 

Workaholics sacrifice their sleep to complete work-related tasks. Poor sleep quality affects their daytime productivity, physical health, cognition, and family life. 

Work addicts report more sleep problems, difficulty falling and waking up, and tiredness at work than their counterparts, states Kazumi Kubota et al. in their study published in the Industrial Health Journal in 2010. 

3. Obsession with work

Obsession is a persistent thought, idea, or mental image that is intrusive or inappropriate and results in anxiety and distress. 

A common symptom of work addiction is obsession with work, which refers to cognitive impairment in work addiction. Workaholics devote excessive time to work and are obsessed with it. They show obsessive-compulsive traits, which can be related to other unfulfilled internal needs.

Cecilie Schou Andreassen et al. from the University Of Bergen state in a study published in 2013 that working excessively hard and having an internal obsessive drive are the signs of work addiction. 

4. Worrying over work performance

Another major symptom of work addiction is constant worrying over work performance. Work addicts stay in a state of worry even in their leisure time, which has negative effects on sleep and physical health.  

Worrying workaholics undermine their achievements, aim for perfectionism, and try to impress supervisors to get positive rewards at work, according to a study by Dirk De Clercq et al. published in the Journal of Business Ethics in 2019.  

5. Escapism

Escapism is using a behavior or action to escape life’s painful realities.

Escapism in work is a subjective experience that allows individuals to modify their negative emotions like anxiety, stress, or guilt into a ‘happy state’ by engaging in work. 

Thus, individuals with work addiction use excessive work as a coping strategy for negative life experiences, according to a study by Vikto´ria Kenyhercz et al. published in PLOS One in 2024. 

6. Fear of failure

Fear of failure is a persistent, irrational anxiety about failing to meet the standards and goals set by oneself or others. 

Work addicts with a fear of failure can have both perfectionism and imposter syndrome. They have a fear of falling short of unrealistically high standards, fear of being evaluated, and fear of being found out as incompetent. 

Work addicts with perfectionism endorse exceedingly high expectations but have a fear of falling short, mentions Alessandra Falco, Damiano Girardi, and Laura Dal Corso in their study published in 2018. 

7. Relationship deterioration

Relationship deterioration refers to the weakening of emotional bonds that hold people together.

Individuals with work addiction put so much energy and time into work that it impairs their relationships. They work in off timings, neglect their partners, and miss out on important events. All this neglect leads to a permanent family disruption.  

A study by Cecilie Schou Andreassen et al., published in 2013, found that work addiction is linked with a negative spillover between work and family. 

What are the causes of work addiction?

The causes of work addiction are childhood abuse, mental health disorders, personality traits, and substance use disorders. 

1. Childhood abuse

Individuals with a history of childhood abuse are likely to develop work addiction. Childhood emotional abuse distorts one’s self-perception, leading to a desire for external validation and approval. Individuals with childhood abuse develop a strong, negative relation with perfectionism to restore a sense of self-value and cope with emotional distress, wrote Andrew P. Hill et al. in their study published in Personality and Individual Differences in 2011. 

2. Mental health disorders

Mental health disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and imposter syndrome can lead to work addiction. 

Work addiction is a compulsive disorder that is strongly linked with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mentions Paweł A. Atroszko et al. in their study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2020. 

Individuals with imposter syndrome feel incompetent and have an intense fear of failure. They believe that they cannot accomplish a task without working extremely hard. This negative sense of hard work predisposes imposter syndrome individuals to work addiction, states Irum Mir and Anila Kamal in their study published in the Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research in 2018.  

3. Personality traits

Personality traits, including perfectionism, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and narcissism, are etiological factors for work addiction. 

Perfectionism and conscientiousness are a conquest to achieve flawless, quality work that serves as a root cause for work addiction. Other personality traits, including neuroticism and narcissism, are associated with stress. Stress can push a person to use work as an escape, thus leading to work addiction, concludes Valeria Verrastro et al. in their study published in Behavioral Sciences in 2024. 

4. Substance use disorder

Substance use disorder can cause work addiction. Substance use disorder occurs from a need to escape negative life emotions. Such an individual is at an increased risk of using work as an escape as well. Both work addiction and substance use disorder have similar pathophysiology, so one addiction can cause the other one.

What are the effects of work addiction?

The effects of work addiction are decreased productivity, burnout, physical health issues, and mental health issues. 

1. Decreased Productivity

Individuals with work addiction have decreased productivity at work because they do not give their brains enough rest, even at night. The decreased productivity may occur due to the cognitive decline associated with poor sleep quality. 

This continuous state of stress affects motivation and health, which ultimately leads to decreased productivity, according to a study, ‘Workaholism – Does Working More Impact Productivity?’ by Dr. Kalpathy Ramaiyer Subramanian in 2018. 

2. Burnout

Work addiction can lead to burnout due to mental and physical exhaustion or energy depletion. 

Excessive workload, unrealistic expectations, and work-life imbalance can make workers feel overwhelmed and emotionally drained. According to the World Health Organization, job burnout can manifest as negativism related to one’s work and a sense of ineffectiveness. 

Burnout can further lead to physical and mental health issues, damaged relationships, and even drug abuse. 

3. Physical Health Issues

An important effect of work addiction is physical health issues. People with work addiction work for long hours and under stress. It can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic fatigue. Lack of exercise and a healthy diet further exacerbate these risks, potentially leading to long-term health complications. 

A study by Marisa Salanova et al. published in the Work and Stress Journal in 2016 states that work addiction is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. 

How does work addiction affect your physical health?

Work addiction affects your physical health due to chronic stress and fatigue associated with work. Chronic stress can cause sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. 

Furthermore, work addicts who have a lack of physical activity are prone to obesity. They work day in and day out to the point of exhaustion and not only weaken their immune system but also initiate a number of chronic diseases.

How can work addiction affect your mental health?

Work addiction can affect your mental health by causing stress and relationship difficulties. Workaholics are at a greater risk of developing mental health conditions like perfectionism, depression, and anxiety disorders due to work stressors. 

Work addiction is linked with poor mental health, depression, and poor sleep quality, according to a study by Frédéric Dutheil et al. published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 

How does work addiction affect your brain?

Work addiction affects your brain by impacting executive functions like planning, attention, problem-solving, initiation, and inhibition of actions. 

There is no evidence of impact on neuroanatomical structures during work addiction. However, it is a hypothesis that the brain structures responsible for executive functioning are affected. The brain structure involved in executive functioning is the prefrontal cortex. Work addiction impacts the prefrontal cortex and reduces the productivity of the work addict.

How does work addiction affect your family?

Work addiction affects your family due to work-life imbalance. Work life balance is pivotal for maintaining a strong and loving relationship. If a person is addicted to work, their partner and children feel ignored due to lack of attention and participation in family matters. 

American Psychologist, Wayne E. Oates says that people who work excessively disturb their bodily health, personal happiness, and interpersonal relationships. 

Work addiction can interfere with intimate and social relationships and lead to dysfunctional families, according to a study by Bryan E. Robinson and Phyllis Post, published in the Family Journal. 

What are the types of work addiction treatment?

The types of work addiction treatment are individual therapy, group therapy, medications, rehabilitation programs, inpatient treatment, and support groups.

Individual therapy

Individual therapy, a type of psychotherapy, is one-on-one sessions with a specialized therapist. 

Work addiction can be treated with individual therapy, where the therapists focus on primary symptoms as well as the inner dynamics of the patient. Work addiction can stem from childhood abuse, substance use, and mental health disorders. So, a work addict will be more comfortable facing their inner demons in front of a single therapist. 

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which a group of people with similar challenges meets and discusses their challenges under the supervision of a therapist. 

Group therapy is a good option for workaholics who have understood their inner challenges through individual sessions. Group therapy helps workaholics learn techniques to suppress their negative behaviors and provide them with a family environment without any judgment, Robert Holman Coombs mentions in his ‘Handbook of Addictive Disorders’.   

Medications

There is no pharmacological intervention for treating work addiction. The evidence shows that no randomized controlled trial has been conducted to prove the effectiveness of medications in work addiction.

However, adjunct pharmacological treatment, like the use of sleep medications and antidepressants, may help in reducing the signs and symptoms of work addiction. 

Rehabilitation Programs

A rehabilitation program is a program for self-improvement to optimize functioning and reduce disability in various health disorders. It can be inpatient or outpatient.

Workaholics requiring special care can apply to a specialized rehabilitation program to reduce symptoms of compulsive working. However, there is no literature backing the use of rehabilitation programs in treating work addiction. 

Inpatient treatment

Inpatient treatment refers to staying at a treatment facility to receive intensive mental health treatment. 

Although inpatient treatment is uncommon for work addiction, severe cases can undergo inpatient treatment where their symptoms can be monitored 24/7.   

Support groups

Support groups are groups of people who share advice and comfort people experiencing similar challenges without the supervision of a therapist.

Workaholics Anonymous is an online and onsite support group for individuals with compulsive working. It offers a 12-step program to help workaholics stop overworking and live normal lives. 

Does work addiction trigger other disorders?

Yes, work addiction triggers other disorders like anxiety, depression, and drug addiction. Work addiction triggers these disorders because of chronic stress, feelings of being stuck, and relationship problems. 

Work addiction can trigger drug addiction if the person uses obsessive-compulsive behaviors as a way to combat life problems. 

Excessive work is a source of depression and anxiety disorders, states María-José Serrano-Fernández et al. in their study published in the Work Journal in 2021. Adequate treatment with a healthy lifestyle can prevent these disorders in work addicts.

Is work addiction a disease?

Yes, work addiction is a disease. It is a mental health condition with obsessive and compulsive work behavior patterns. However, it is not officially a disorder in DSM-5-TR or ICD-11. 

Can work addiction lead to decreased productivity?

Yes, work addiction can lead to decreased productivity due to poor sleep quality. Poor sleeping habits cause psychological distress and physical complaints that increase absenteeism from work and reduce productivity, states Kazumi Kubota et al. in a study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine in 2014. 

Is there a difference between a high work ethic and work addiction?

Yes, there is a difference between a high work ethic and work addiction. A high work ethic means to work hard and take pride in your work while being socially active. In contrast, work addiction is compulsive work behavior characterized by hard work but social withdrawal to complete work-related tasks. 

Can work addiction lead to burnout?

Yes, work addiction can lead to burnout due to chronic job stress. Chronic job stress causes both mental and physical exhaustion. According to a study done by Paweł A. Atroszko et al. in 2020, compulsive working leads to job burnout and reduced work engagement. 

Is work addiction a choice?

Yes, work addiction is a choice initially. However, later on, the addiction cycle becomes vicious and does not stay under the free will of the individual. The individual then needs psychopharmacological interventions to treat work addiction.  

What is the root cause of workaholism?

The root cause of workaholism often stems from deep-seated psychological factors such as the need for validation, fear of failure, or low self-esteem. It can also be driven by societal pressures, perfectionism, and the belief that self-worth is tied to productivity.

How to stop being a work addict?

To stop being a work addict, set work-life boundaries, prioritize self-care, and delegate tasks. Engage in non-work activities and seek support to address emotional triggers.