Personality traits and the degree of work addiction among Polish women: the mediating role of depressiveness

Introduction Workaholism is an addiction, however the obsessive-compulsive components alone may prove insufficient in determining its nature. Objectives The aim of the following study was to determine the mediating role of depressiveness in the relationships between workaholism and personality traits according to the five-factor model among Polish women. Methods The research study was carried out among 556 women residing in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. The research was based on a survey performed using a questionnaire technique. The following research instruments adapted to Polish conditions were employed to assess the incidence of work addiction among female adults: The NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), The Work Addiction Risk Test (WART) Questionnaire, and The Beck Depression Inventory–BDI I-II. Results A positive correlation between the intensity of neuroticism and the work addiction risk was revealed (β = 0.204, p < 0.001). A partial mediation (35%) with the severity of depression symptoms as a mediating factor was observed (β = 0.110, p < 0.001). Respondents characterized by high neuroticism showed a greater severity of the symptoms of depression (β = 0.482, p < 0.001), which is a factor increasing the work addiction risk (β = 0.228, p < 0.001). Respondents characterized by a high level of extraversion displayed lower severity of the symptoms of depression (β = –0.274, p < 0.001). A negative correlation between the intensity of agreeableness and the work addiction risk was revealed (β = –0.147, p < 0.001). A partial mediation (27.8%) was observed. A positive correlation between the intensity of conscientiousness and the work addiction risk was revealed (β = 0.082, p = 0.047). Respondents characterised by a high level of conscientiousness showed a lower severity of depression symptoms (β = –0.211, p < 0.001). Table 1. Indirect and total effects: Mediation model 1 - Neuroticism 95% CI* Type Effect b Lower Upper β** z p -value Indirect N ⇒ BDI ⇒ WART 0.149 0.092 0.213 0.110 4.800 <0.001 Component N ⇒ BDI 0.241 0.205 0.275 0.482 13.270 <0.001 BDI ⇒ WART 0.618 0.398 0.851 0.228 5.230 <0.001 Direct N ⇒ WART 0.277 0.157 0.403 0.204 4.540 <0.001 Total N ⇒ WART 0.426 0.319 0.534 0.314 7.790 <0.001 NEU—neuroticims, WART—Work Addiction Risk Test, N – Neuroticism, BDI—Beck Depression Inventory–BDI I-II, b—unstandardized regression coefficient, β—standardized regression coefficient, p —significance level; * Confidence interval (CI) computed with method: bootstrap percentiles; ** Beta (β) is completely standardized effect size. Conclusions Depressiveness plays the role of a mediator between neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness as well as conscientiousness, and work addiction. Depressiveness is a factor which increases the risk of work addiction. Disclosure of Interest None Declared