The International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS): A screening tool for clinical and organizational applications validated in 85 cultures from six continents

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68081740%3A_____%2F25%3A00617520" target="_blank" >RIV/68081740:_____/25:00617520 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216208:11210/25:10510973

Result on the web

<a href="https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/aop/article-10.1556-2006.2025.00005/article-10.1556-2006.2025.00005.xml" target="_blank" >https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/aop/article-10.1556-2006.2025.00005/article-10.1556-2006.2025.00005.xml</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/2006.2025.00005" target="_blank" >10.1556/2006.2025.00005</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

The International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS): A screening tool for clinical and organizational applications validated in 85 cultures from six continents

Original language description

Background and aims. Despite the last decade's significant development in the scientific study of work addiction/workaholism, this area of research is still facing a fundamental challenge, namely the need for a valid and reliable measurement tool that shows cross-cultural invariance and, as such, allows for worldwide studies on this phenomenon. Methods. An initial 16-item questionnaire, developed within an addiction framework, was administered alongside job stress, job satisfaction, and self-esteem measures in a total sample of 31,352 employees from six continents and 85 cultures (63.5% females, mean age of 39.24 years). Results. Based on theoretical premises and psychometric testing, the International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS) was developed as a short measure representing essential features of work addiction. The seven-item version (IWAS-7), covering all seven components of work addiction, showed partial scalar invariance across 81 cultures, while the five-item version (IWAS-5) showed it across all 85 cultures. Higher levels of work addiction on both versions were associated with higher job stress, lower job satisfaction, and lower self-esteem across cultures. The optimal cut-offs for the IWAS-7 (24 points) and IWAS-5 (18 points) were established with an overall accuracy of 96% for both versions. Discussion and conclusions. The IWAS is a valid, reliable, and short screening scale that can be used in different cultures and languages, providing comparative and generalizable results. The scale can be used globally in clinical and organizational settings, with the IWAS-5 being recommended for most practical and clinical situations. This is the first study to provide data supporting the hypothesis that work addiction is a universal phenomenon worldwide.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

50101 - Psychology (including human - machine relations)

Project

<a href="/en/project/LX22NPO5101" target="_blank" >LX22NPO5101: The National Institute for Research on the Socioeconomic Impact of Diseases and Systemic Risks</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Behavioral Addictions

ISSN

2062-5871

e-ISSN

2063-5303

Volume of the periodical

14

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

HU - HUNGARY

Number of pages

26

Pages from-to

220-245

UT code for WoS article

001443939200001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105002303417