If you have a workaholic, depression or lack of sleep, it could be going on, according to a new study.
The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reported that workaholics – described as people with a ‘compulsion or an uncontrollable need to work incessantly’ – are twice as likely to be depressed and have poorer sleep quality than normal employees.
The international group of researchers examined the work habits of 187 French workers and found that people in work with strong demands were five times more likely to be addicted to work.
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This high-risk group works an average of seven hours more per week than their low-risk counterparts, and is characterized by ‘excessive involvement of the individual at work when it is not needed or expected.’
Workers at high risk of work addiction were more than twice as likely to be depressed, while workers at low risk of work addiction were actually more likely to show symptoms of anxiety.
Researchers also found that “sleep quality was lower in workers at high risk for work addiction compared to workers at low risk for work addiction.”
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The study could have implications for Americans working longer amid the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a July study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, in the period after the closure, Americans worked an average of 48.5 minutes longer than before the pandemic.
The longer work you have worked in coincides with the mental health of Americans. Only 76% of Americans said their mental health was excellent or good in a Gallup poll last month, down 9 points from 2019.