The Relationship of Workaholism With Work–Life Conflict, Life Satisfaction, and Purpose in Life

Bonebright, Cynthia A.
Clay, Daniel L.
Ankenmann, Robert D.

¹Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, University of Iowa

²Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Cynthia A. Bonebright, Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, University of Iowa, 361 Lindquist Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242. Electronic mail may be sent to [email protected].

We thank Sharon A. Sackett and Gerald L. Stone for their assistance on this article. Cynthia A. Bonebright also thanks William J. Richter and Terri Jo Ottoson for supporting this research.

Received Date: August 2, 1999; Revised Date: December 23, 1999; Accepted Date: February 4, 2000

Journal of Counseling Psychology 47(4):p 469-477, October 2000.

This study examined the differences between 2 types of workaholics (enthusiastic and nonenthusiastic workaholics) and nonworkaholic workers (work enthusiasts, relaxed workers, unengaged workers, and disenchanted workers) with respect to work–life conflict, life satisfaction, and purpose in life in a sample of 171 salaried employees of a high technology organization. Results differed for the 2 types of workaholics, supporting the importance of continued differentiation of workaholic types. Nonenthusiastic workaholics were found to have significantly more work–life conflict and significantly less life satisfaction and purpose in life than 3 of the 4 types of nonworkaholics. Enthusiastic workaholics were found to have significantly more life satisfaction and purpose in life than nonenthusiastic workaholics and significantly more work–life conflict than 3 of the 4 nonworkaholics. Implications for career planning and counseling are discussed.