
Workaholics have a compulsion to work. They work excessively even it interferes with their sleep, health and relationship with family and friends. On the surface, they may seem to like and enjoy their work, but deep down they simply feel compelled to overwork.
A large research study in Norway indicates that workaholics are more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorders such as Anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The study was conducted by scientists at the University of Bergen in Norway where they studied the link between excessive work and mental health disorders in over 16,000 working adults.
They found that “Workaholics scored higher on all the psychiatric symptoms than non-workaholics”. The main findings of the study were as follows:
- Over 32% workaholicsmet criteria for ADHD criteria as compared to less than 13% in non-workaholics).
- Over 25% workaholicsmet OCD criteria as compared to less than 9% in non-workaholics).
- Almost 34% workaholics met anxiety criteria as compared to less than 12% among non-workaholics.
- Almost 9% met depression criteria as compared to less than 3% in non-workaholics.
Are you a Workaholic?
If your answer is “Often” to 5, Or “Always” to 4 of the following 7 questions, you are most likely a workaholic.
Over the last 12 months, have you been:
- Thinking on how to free up more time to work.
- Spending much more time on work than initially intended.
- Working in order to reduce feelings of anxiety, depression or guilt.
- Told by others to cut down on your work.
- Feeling anxious or stressed if prohibited from working.
- Neglecting hobbies, leisure activities, or exercise due to work.
- Working so much to have a negative impact on health.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160525084547.htm