Workaholism Test (BWAS)

The concept of workaholism has shifted in recent decades from a casual pop-psychology buzzword to a recognized subject of serious psychological inquiry. In 2012, researchers Cecilie Schou Andreassen, Mark D. Griffiths, and their colleagues developed the Bergen Work Addiction Scale (BWAS) to establish a rigorous, standardized tool for evaluating compulsive working behavior across diverse occupations. Drawing directly on core diagnostic criteria commonly applied to behavioral addictions—including salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, relapse, and interpersonal conflict—the authors created an empirical framework to differentiate highly dedicated, passionate achievement from unhealthy, destructive work patterns that compromise long-term well-being.

Work addiction is characterized by an overwhelming, obsessive cognitive focus on work duties and an inability to disengage from labor, even when doing so clearly harms personal health and interpersonal relationships. In everyday life, this behavioral pattern manifests as constantly brainstorming ways to free up additional time for work tasks, spending significantly more hours working than initially intended, and experiencing intense restlessness or anxiety when forced to take time off. Furthermore, many individuals struggling with workaholism use continuous labor as a coping strategy to suppress uncomfortable emotions such as guilt, helplessness, anxiety, or depression. Over time, personal hobbies, physical exercise, family duties, and social connections are steadily sidelined to sustain an excessive and demanding workload.

Psychological research investigating work addiction highlights a vital distinction between heavy work investment driven by genuine enthusiasm and compulsive workaholism driven by internal compulsion. Studies consistently demonstrate that individuals scoring high in work addiction experience significantly elevated rates of occupational burnout, severe physical exhaustion, insomnia, and general psychological distress. Unlike highly engaged employees who derive energy, personal fulfillment, and positive self-worth from their careers, work-addicted individuals typically report lower overall life satisfaction, elevated stress levels, and strained family relationships. Research also indicates that workaholism frequently co-occurs with perfectionistic tendencies, high trait anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive personality patterns, further worsening its negative impacts over time.

The results chart presented upon completion of this test includes population comparison markers to help contextualize your overall score against broader community averages. These reference markers are rough estimates rescaled from published research studies that evaluated community and occupational samples using the original scale. They are intended strictly as a general reference point rather than validated percentile norms or definitive clinical benchmarks. Landing higher or lower than these estimated averages simply offers a useful comparison to typical survey responses, giving you insight into where your reported work tendencies sit relative to broad population patterns.

This assessment is provided for educational and self-reflection purposes only. It is not a clinical diagnostic instrument and cannot provide a formal diagnosis of work addiction or any other psychological condition. A high score on this test should not be interpreted as a definitive psychiatric label, nor should a low score be taken as a complete guarantee of healthy work-life balance. This assessment is based on the research behind the BWAS, but it uses original item phrasing and independent scoring procedures and is not affiliated with Cecilie Schou Andreassen, Mark D. Griffiths, or their academic institutions. If your work habits are creating severe stress, burnout, or personal conflict, reaching out to a qualified healthcare professional can provide guidance and tailored support.

References

• Andreassen, C. S., Griffiths, M. D., Hetland, J., & Pallesen, S. (2012). Development of a work addiction scale. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 53(3), 265-272.