Charzyńska, E. and Buźniak, A. and Czerwiński, S.K. and Woropay-Hordziejewicz, N. and Schneider, Z. and Aavik, T. and Adamowic, M. and Adams, B.G. and Al-Mahjoob, S.M. and Almoshawah, S.A.S. and Arrowsmith, J. and Asatsa, S. and Austin, S. and Aziz, S. and Bakker, A.B. and Balducci, C. and Barros, E. and Bălțătescu, S. and Bdier, D. and Bhatia, N. and Bilic, S. and Boer, D. and Caspi, A. and Chaleeraktrakoon, T. and Chan, C.I.M. and Chien, C.-J. and Choi, H.-S. and Choubisa, R. and Clark, M. and Čekrlija, Đ. and Demetrovics, Z. and Dervishi, E. and de Zoysa, P. and del Carmen Domínguez Espinosa, A. and Dragova-Koleva, S. and Efstathiou, V. and Fernandez, M.E. and Fernet, C. and Gadelrab, H.F. and Gamsakhurdia, V. and Garðarsdóttir, R.B. and Garrido, L.E. and Gillet, N. and Gonçalves, S.P. and Griffiths, M.D. and Hakobyan, N.R. and Halim, F.W. and Hansenne, M. and Hasan, B.B. and Herttalampi, M. and Hlatywayo, C.K. and Hromatko, I. and Igou, E.R. and Iliško, D. and Isayeva, U. and Ismail, H.N. and Jensen, D.H. and Kakupa, P. and Kamble, S. and Kerriche, A. and Kubicek, B. and Kugbey, N. and Kun, B. and Lee, J.H. and Lisá, E. and Lisun, Y. and Lupano Perugini, M.L. and Marcatto, F. and Maslovarić, B. and Massoudi, K. and McFarlane, T.A. and Mgaiwa, S.J. and Moosavi Jahanabad, S.T. and Moreta-Herrera, R. and Nguyen, H.T.M. and Ohtsubo, Y. and Özsoy, T. and Øvergård, K.I. and Pallesen, S. and Parker, J. and Plohl, N. and Pontes, Halley and Potter, R. and Roe, A. and Samekin, A. and Schulmeyer, M.K. and Seisembekov, T.Z. and Serrano-Fernández, M.J. and Shahrour, G. and Matić, J.S. and Sobhie, R. and Spagnoli, P. and Story, J. and Sullman, M.J.M. and Sultanova, L. and Sun, R. and Suryani, A.O. and Sussman, S. and Teng-Calleja, M. and Torales, J. and Vera Cruz, G. and Wu, A.M.S. and Yang, X. and Zabrodska, K. and Ziedelis, A. and Atroszko, P.A. (2025) The International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS): a screening tool for clinical and organizational applications validated in 85 cultures from six continents. Journal of Behavioral Addictions , ISSN 2062-5871.
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Abstract
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.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Administrator |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Feb 2025 14:42 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Apr 2025 11:45 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/55075 |
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