Work addiction in Chinese white-collar workers: the psychometric properties of its measure and its comorbidity with general anxiety in network analysis

Ruimei Sun; Long W Lam; Anise M S Wu

doi:10.1186/s40359-023-01247-7

Work addiction in Chinese white-collar workers: the psychometric properties of its measure and its comorbidity with general anxiety in network analysis

BMC Psychol. 2023 Jul 25;11(1):214. doi: 10.1186/s40359-023-01247-7.

Authors

Ruimei Sun^{1

2}, Long W Lam^{2

3}, Anise M S Wu^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao SAR, China.
² Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao SAR, China.
³ Department of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao SAR, China.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao SAR, China. anisewu@um.edu.mo.
⁵ Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao SAR, China. anisewu@um.edu.mo.

Abstract

Background: Work addiction (WA) threatens occupation-related health in many countries including China. This research aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Bergen Work Addiction Scale (BWAS), the most common measure of WA, to facilitate relevant studies in Chinese workers. A network analysis was further conducted to identify central and bridge symptoms within the WA-anxiety network to improve intervention practices.

Methods: A total of 694 Chinese white-collar workers completed an online questionnaire survey in March of 2022, and the responses to BWAS from a subsample of 50 participants one month after this survey were also collected.

Results: The unidimensionality of BWAS was supported by results of exploratory factor analysis, exploratory graph analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis and we found satisfactory internal consistency and acceptable test-retest reliability. Multiple-group factor analyses confirmed the measurement invariance of BWAS across genders, districts (i.e., central China, eastern China, western China, and northeastern China), and age groups (i.e., young and middle-aged adults) while the convergent validity of BWAS was demonstrated by its significant correlations with Dutch Work Addiction Scale (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) and its criterion validity was indicated by its significant correlations with general anxiety, weekly work hours, and health status (r = -0.16 to 0.31, p < 0.001-0.01). Network analysis further revealed two central symptoms (WA-tolerance and WA-problems) and three bridge symptoms (WA-problems, WA-mood modification, and mouth dryness of general anxiety) maintaining the WA-anxiety comorbidity.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that BWAS is a valid measure of WA in Chinese workers and interventions should put special attention to the identified central and bridge symptoms underlying the WA-anxiety network.

Keywords: Anxiety; Bergen Work Addiction Scale; Network analysis; Psychometric properties; Work addiction; Workaholism.

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety Disorders* / diagnosis
Anxiety Disorders* / epidemiology
Anxiety* / diagnosis
Anxiety* / epidemiology
Comorbidity
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Psychometrics / methods
Reproducibility of Results
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

CRG2020-00001-ICI/University of Macau