Workaholism and well-being among Japanese dual-earner couples: a spillover-crossover perspective

Soc Sci Med. 2011 Aug;73(3):399-409. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.05.049. Epub 2011 Jun 22.

Abstract

This study among Japanese dual-earner couples examined the impact of workaholism on employees' and their partners' work-family conflicts and psychological distress. The matched responses of 994 couples were analyzed with logistic regression analyses. Results showed that workaholics (i.e., employees scoring high on both working excessively and working compulsively) were more likely to experience work-to-family conflict and psychological distress compared to relaxed workers (i.e., low on both working excessively and working compulsively) for both genders. Results also showed that husbands of workaholic women were more likely to experience family-to-work conflict, whereas wives of workaholic men were not. These findings integrate and expand previous findings on workaholism and the recently formulated spillover-crossover model.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Conflict, Psychological*
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Employment / psychology*
  • Employment / statistics & numerical data
  • Family / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Sex Factors
  • Spouses / psychology*
  • Stress, Psychological