The Impact of Workaholism on Employees’ Wellbeing: An Investigation in a Non-Western Economy
- Zonaira Shehper
- zonaira.shehper@gmail.com
- Professor (Non-Full Time Faculty), Lawrence Kinlin School of Business, Fanshawe College, London, ON, Canada.
- Shamila Nabi Khan
- nnks113@gmail.com
- Associate Professor, PhD in Business Administration, Faculty of Business Administration Lahore School of Economics, Lahore, Pakistan
- (Corresponding Author)
Submitted
November 22, 2023
Accepted
November 22, 2023
Accepted
November 22, 2023
- Received
- 7th June 2023
- Revised
- 21st October 2023
- Accepted
- 31st January 2024
Abstract
Amid the aftermath of the ‘Great Resignation’ following COVID-19, employees increasingly
demand improved work-life balance due to the challenges posed by modern workplaces. This study first
examines the impact of workaholism on work-family inter-role conflicts. Second, it explores how workfamily inter-role conflicts affect the physical and psychological health of workaholics. Third, the study
assesses the impact of ill health on workaholics’ job and life satisfaction. Out of 350 distributed
questionnaires, 242 Pakistani employees working in the manufacturing and service sectors completed the
survey. As hypothesized, workaholism is positively associated with work-family inter-role conflicts and
significantly harms the health of workaholics. This diminished wellbeing leads to reduced job satisfaction
and decreased life satisfaction. The study provides implications for HR managers and policymakers in
Pakistan, highlighting workaholism’s pervasive influence on employee wellbeing. Specifically, the results
demonstrate the role of work-family inter-role conflicts in exacerbating ill health, urging organizations to
prioritize work-life balance to improve workforce wellbeing and productivity.
Keywords
Workaholism
wellbeing
ill health
job satisfaction,
life satisfaction
inter-role conflict
work-family conflict

This work is licensed under LJB.
- Citation
Shehper, Z., & Khan, S. N. (2024). The Impact of Workaholism on Employees’
Wellbeing: An Investigation in a Non-Western Economy. The Lahore Journal of Business, 12(1),
01-29
- References
- Abbas, J., Aqeel, M., Abbas, J., Shaher, B., Jaffar, A., Sundas, J., & Zhang, W. (2019). The moderating role of social support for marital adjustment, depression, anxiety, and stress: Evidence from Pakistani working and nonworking women. Journal of Affective Disorders, 244, 231–238.
- Abdi, R., Shabani, N., Javidfar, S., & Pak, R. (2018). The relationship between perfectionism and job burnout: Mediating role of workaholism. Industrial and Organizational Psychology Studies, 4(2), 1–16.
- Adamovic, M. (2022). How does employee cultural background influence the effects of telework on job stress? The roles of power distance, individualism, and beliefs about telework. International Journal of Information Management, 62, 102437.
- Adil, M. S., & Qaiser, F. (2020). Effect of leader-member exchange relationship on occupational stress in the energy sector of Pakistan: A mediating role of job involvement. Journal of Management Sciences, 7(1), 64–87.
- Allen, N. J., & Meyer, J. P. (1990). The measurement and antecedents of affective, continuance and normative commitment to the organization. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 63(1), 1–18.
- Andreassen, C. S. (2013). Workaholism: An overview and current status of the research. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 3(1), 1–11.
- Andreassen, C. S., Hetland, J., & Pallesen, S. (2014). Psychometric assessment of workaholism measures. Journal of Management Psychology, 29, 7–24.
- Ariapooran, S. (2019). Sleep problems and depression in Iranian nurses: The predictive role of workaholism. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 24(1), 30–37.
- Atroszko, P. A., & Atroszko, B. (2020). The costs of work-addicted managers in organizations: Towards integrating clinical and organizational frameworks. Amfiteatru Economic, 22(14), 1265–1282.
- Aziz, S., & Cunningham, J. (2008). Workaholism, work stress, work-life imbalance: exploring gender’s role. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 23(8), 553–566.
- Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., & Burke, R. (2009). Workaholism and relationship quality: A spillover-crossover perspective. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 14, 23–33.
- Becker, G. S. (1991). A treatise on the family. Harvard University Press.
- Becker, G. S. (1993). Human capital theory. University of Chicago Press.
- Bollen, K. A. (1989). A new incremental fit index for general structural equation models. Sociological Methods and Research, 17(3), 303–316.
- Bonebright, C. A., Clay, D. L., & Ankenmann, R. D. (2000). The relationship of workaholism with work-life conflict, life satisfaction, and purpose in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47, 469–477.
- Brett, J. M., & Stroh, L. K. (2003). Working 61 plus hours a week: Why do managers do it? Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(1), 67–78.
- Burke, R. J. (1999). Workaholism and extra-work satisfaction. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 7, 352–364.
- Burke, R. J. (2008). Work motivations, satisfactions, and health: Passion versus addiction. In R. J. Burke & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), The long working hours culture: Causes, consequences and choices (pp. 227–251). Emerald.
- Burke, R. J., & MacDermid, G. (1999). Are workaholics job satisfied and successful in their careers? Career Development International, 4(5), 277–282.
- Chan, I. Y. S., Leung, M. Y., & Liang, Q. (2018). The roles of motivation and coping behaviors in managing stress: Qualitative interview study of Hong Kong expatriate construction professionals in mainland China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(3), 561.