The relationships between work intensity, workaholism, burnout, and self‐reported musculoskeletal complaints

• Published in: Human factors and ergonomics in manufacturing & service industries Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 59 - 70
• Main Authors: Engelbrecht, Gerhard J., Beer, Leon T., Schaufeli, Wilmar B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Burnout; Employees; Multivariate statistical analysis; musculoskeletal complaints; Occupational health; Research design; work intensity; workaholism; Working conditions
• ISSN: 1090-8471; 1520-6564; 2157-4650; 1520-6564
• DOI: 10.1002/hfm.20821

Technological advances within the work environment have dynamically changed the tools with which work is done and the methods applied for performing it, with a large amount of modern work being fast‐paced and sedentary in nature, that is, being done seated in front of a computer screen. This study investigated the relationship between work intensity, workaholism, burnout, and musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs). The results of this study could assist organizations in gaining a clearer understanding of how each of these constructs influences the other, promoting a healthier, and ultimately more productive workforce. A cross‐sectional research design was adopted and implemented by means of a survey amongst office employees within a large engineering services organization (n = 398). Structural equation modeling methods were applied to analyze the data. The results revealed that work intensity was positively related to workaholism and that workaholism was, in turn, also positively related to employees’ burnout and MSCs. Finally, burnout was also shown to be significantly related to MSCs. Awareness of these phenomena and the promotion of effort recovery is important to obviate the effects on employee health and well‐being in the long term.