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Core self-evaluations associated with workaholism: the mediating role of perceived job demands

Ying An (Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China)
Xiaomin Sun (Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China)
Kai Wang (Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China)
Huijie Shi (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada)
Zhenzhen Liu (Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China)
Yiming Zhu (Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China)
Fang Luo (Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China)

Personnel Review

ISSN: 0048-3486

Article publication date: 17 August 2020

Issue publication date: 13 January 2021

838

Abstract

Purpose

Why do some employees choose to prolong their working hours excessively? The current study tested how core self-evaluations (CSEs) might lead to workaholism and how perceived job demands might mediate this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Insights from the extant literature underpin the hypotheses on how CSEs would affect the development of workaholism through perceived job demands. A sample of 421 working people in China completed the online surveys, and the mediation model was tested using Mplus 7.0 (Muthén and Muthén, 1998–2012).

Findings

This study found that different components of CSEs influence workaholism in different ways. Specifically, generalized self-efficacy positively predicts workaholism, whereas emotional stability negatively predicts workaholism. Moreover, most aspects of CSEs (generalized self-efficacy, emotional stability and locus of control) influence workaholism via perceived job demands, specifically via perceived workload but not via perceived job insecurity.

Originality/value

The current study is the first to explore how individuals' fundamental evaluations of themselves (i.e. CSEs) relate to workaholism. The results are helpful for the prevention and intervention of workaholism in organizations.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Xiaomin Sun (sunxiaomin@bnu.edu.cn), Room 1311, New Main Building, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai St., Haidian District, Beijing, China, 100875. 86-10-58802101.Funding: This work was funded by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (Grant Number 9202009), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number 71971028), the Advanced Innovation Center for Future Education at Beijing Normal University (Grant Number 27900-110631111) and the Major Project of National Social Science Fund of China (Grant Number 19@ZH050).

Citation

An, Y., Sun, X., Wang, K., Shi, H., Liu, Z., Zhu, Y. and Luo, F. (2021), "Core self-evaluations associated with workaholism: the mediating role of perceived job demands", Personnel Review, Vol. 50 No. 1, pp. 303-318. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-05-2019-0263

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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