Intact Habit Learning in Work Addiction

Work addiction (WA) is characterized by compulsive and inflexible behavior patterns that detrimentally affect the individual's health and functioning. While prior studies have indicated an overreliance on habit learning in various addictions, this study is the first to examine its role in WA. 101 adults were categorized into low-risk and high-risk groups for WA based on their scores on the Work Addiction Risk Test. We used an implicit statistical learning task designed to assess habit learning through the implicit acquisition of structured patterns characterized by alternating sequences. No significant differences were observed between the groups, both in terms of accuracy and reaction time. These findings suggests that individuals with WA exhibit intact habit learning, indicating that their compulsive work behavior may not solely stem from habitual processes. This highlights the unique features of WA compared to other addictions, potentially contributing to the relatively better overall functioning observed in affected individuals.