Relationship between Self-Esteem and Maladaptive Perfectionism with Workaholism among Health Care Workers: The mediating role of Rumination

Workaholism as a negative condition is associated with various individual and social consequences.The aim of present study was to investigate the mediating role of rumination in the relationship between self-esteem and maladaptive perfectionism with workaholism.

The research design was descriptive – correlational. From the statistical population of health care workers in public hopitals in Tehran, a total of 316 workers were selected using voluntary sampling method. Data were collected using Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), Workaholism Battery (WorkBAT), Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PNPS) and Rosenberg Self- Esteem Scale (RSES). To analyze the data structural equation modeling were conducted.

The results showed that direct effect of self-esteem on rumination (β = -0.44, P<0.001) and direct effect of on workaholism (β= -0.15, P<0.001) were significantly negative. Also, the direct effect of maladaptive perfectionism on rumination (β = 0.37, P<0.001), the direct effect of rumination on workaholism (β= 0.28, P<0.001) and the direct effect of maladaptive perfectionism on workaholism (β = 0.26, p <0.001) were significantly positive. Finally, results of bootstrapping test showed that mediating role of rumination in the relationship between self-esteem (P <0.01) and maladaptive perfectionism (P <0.01) was significant.

The present study emphasizes the mediating role of rumination as an important cognitive mechanism in the relationship between personality factors and workaholism. The findings of this study could help to guide targeted preventions and interventions for workaholism in health care workers. Therefore, paying attention to dysfunctional cognitive mechanisms and modifying them can be a good way to reduce workaholism.