Optymalne doświadczenia a pracoholizm. Kiedy zaangażowanie przeradza się w uzależnienie

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between optimal experiences and workaholism. The study was conducted on a group of academic workers recruited from The University of Łódź and Technical University of Łódź (N = 126). Polish adaptation of WART and The Questionnaire Measuring Optimal Experiences were used to measure workaholism and flow, respectively. The vast majority of participants have experienced flow at least once or more within a year (93.3%). The analysis revealed the lack of significant differences between groups of workaholics and nonworkaholics in the levels of flow and in the frequency of experiencing flow. However, the factor that distinguishes these two groups is the range of situations in which they experience flow. Thus, workaholics experience flow mainly in work settings, while nonworkaholics experience flow both at work and in their free time. Moreover, the analysis revealed positive but weak correlation between one of the workaholism dimension: obsession/compulsion and flow. Therefore, the element that links those two phenomena is their obsessive-compulsive character. The article draws attention to potential negative consequences related to over engagement in flow activities.