Life balance is indicative of creating and sustaining a meaningful and satisfying quality of living. Contrarily, work addiction is overinvesting in work‐related behaviors, thereby truncating important life‐balance domains. Given a growing body of literature specific to life balance and the increasing incidence of work addiction and burnout among professionals, the authors evaluated life balance and work addiction among 409 professionals in high‐pressure, high‐demand careers. A strong relationship between life‐balance domains and the propensity toward work addiction was noted. Specifically, stress/anxiety and sleep disturbances were identified as work addiction indicators reducing perceptions of life balance. Counselors should assess these critical domains with clients working in high‐pressure, high‐demand careers and be prepared to support these professionals as they restructure their lives to improve life‐balance domains.
A dearth of counseling literature examines the experiences of people of color, including African American women and men, in relation to work–life balance. The authors, therefore, investigated the association between life‐balance domains and work addiction for African Americans. A multiple regression analysis of 115 African American participants (47 men, 68 women) indicated a significant relationship between life‐balance domains and work addiction. In particular, community support was an important indicator of decreased work addiction. Career counselors and mental health counselors need to develop an understanding of how extended familial and social networks assist African American clients in effectively managing work–life balance.
Intercollegiate athletics represent an industry prone to challenges of work addiction and life balance. Work addiction and life balance domains in male and female intercollegiate athletic coaches and administrators (N = 245) were examined using multiple regression analysis. Higher levels of stress/anxiety, sleep disturbance, and career satisfaction and lower levels of quality of relationships and friendships were the strongest predictors of work addiction. Counseling focused on reducing the negative aspects of work addiction, while maintaining job performance, may benefit this population.
The association between personality traits, life balance domains, and work addiction among entrepreneurs was investigated. Multiple regression and canonical correlation analysis of 106 participants indicate a significant relationship between personality traits, life balance domains, and work addiction. In particular, neuroticism was positively related to work addiction, as suggested in earlier studies. Among all the life balance domains five of the 10 life balance domains had a significant positive relationship with work addiction: positive orientation, substance use, sleep disturbance, stress/anxiety, and friendship. Results obtained from this study will help career and mental health counselors better understand entrepreneurs’ needs and life balance domains. By identifying neuroticism and stress levels among entrepreneurs, career counselors can better understand work addiction tendencies and use appropriate interventions accordingly.
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