Psychometric Evidences of the Workaholism Battery in a Portuguese Sample

Joana Santos; Cátia Sousa; António Sousa; Luciano Figueiredo; Gabriela Gonçalves

Joana Santos University of Algarve, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, CIEO – Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics
Cátia Sousa University of Algarve, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, CIEO – Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics
António Sousa University of Algarve, Institute of Engineering, CIMA - Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental
Luciano Figueiredo Company ADECCO
Gabriela Gonçalves University of Algarve, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, CIEO – Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics

Keywords: Workaholism; Adaptation; Psychometric Properties; Portuguese Sample

Abstract

Workaholism, defined as an addiction or dependence on work, is a subject that has become prominent in the literature, although its investigation is still at an early stage. The present
study aims to adapt the Spence and Robbins’ Workaholism Battery - WorkBat (1992) to the Portuguese reality. The sample of the present study consists of 407 participants (313
women, 92 men, 2 don’t answered), aged between 18 and 68 years (M = 39; SD =10.449). The results from confirmatory analysis corroborate the original three factors structure: work
involvement; work drive; work enjoyment. At the level of internal consistency, global and by dimension, the obtained values are acceptable; allowing reiterating what was observed
in the original scale study. Although none of the models tested guarantees ideal adjustment values, either for the reasonableness of the values or for a better theoretical adequacy, the
model considered more suitable meets the threefold solution initially proposed by Spence and Robbins (1992).

Author Biographies

Joana Santos, University of Algarve, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, CIEO – Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics

Graduation in Psychology, social and organizational area. Master in Health Psychology. PhD in Psychology, speciality in Organizational Psychology. Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Algarve. Co-Director of Master in Social and Organizational Psychology at the University of Algarve. Research interests include both basic and applied research in organizational culture, occupational health, ethical and social relationship.

Cátia Sousa, University of Algarve, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, CIEO – Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics

Graduation in Human Resource Management (University Lusíada, Porto), Master in Work Sciences and Labour Relations (ISCTE-IUL), PhD student in Psychology (Faculty of Human and Socials Sciences, University of Algarve). Research interests include both basic and applied research in cultural psychology, intercultural relationship and psychosocial risk.

António Sousa, University of Algarve, Institute of Engineering, CIMA - Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental

Graduated in Mechanical Engineering (1986), MSc Degree in Business Administration and Economics Sciences (1995) - both from Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal - and PhD in Occupational Health and Safety at University of Oporto, Portugal (2014). Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Institute of Engineering of the University of Algarve (since 1991). Director of Master in Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Algarve. The research areas of interest include productivity analysis, performance measurement and management, as well as occupational health and safety.

Luciano Figueiredo, Company ADECCO

Graduation in Psychology, Master in Master in Social and Organizational Psychology. He’s Human Resources Director and collaborates with a research team of University of Algarve. Research interests include both basic and applied research in environmental psychology, safety behavior and occupational health.

Gabriela Gonçalves, University of Algarve, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, CIEO – Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics

Graduation in Psychology, social and organizational area. PhD in Psychology. Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Algarve. Director of Master in Resources Human Management and Co-Director of Master in Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Algarve. Research interests include both basic and applied research in cultural psychology in psychosocial risk, work behavior, ethical and social relationship.

References

Available in the full paper.