20.500.12556/DKUM-94463 The International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS) a screening tool for clinical and organizational applications validated in 85 cultures from six continents Background and aims: Despite the last decade’s significant development in the scientific study of work addiction/workaholism, this area of research is still facing a fundamental challenge, namely the need for a valid and reliable measurement tool that shows cross-cultural invariance and, as such, allows for worldwide studies on this phenomenon. Methods: An initial 16-item questionnaire, developed within an addiction framework, was administered alongside job stress, job satisfaction, and self-esteem measures in a total sample of 31,352 employees from six continents and 85 cultures (63.5% females, mean age of 39.24 years). Results: Based on theoretical premises and psychometric testing, the International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS) was developed as a short measure representing essential features of work addiction. The seven-item version (IWAS-7), covering all seven components of work addiction, showed partial scalar invariance across 81 cultures, while the five-item version (IWAS-5) showed it across all 85 cultures. Higher levels of work addiction on both versions were associated with higher job stress, lower job satisfaction, and lower self-esteem across cultures. The optimal cut-offs for the IWAS-7 (24 points) and IWAS-5 (18 points) were established with an overall accuracy of 96% for both versions. Discussion and conclusions: The IWAS is a valid, reliable, and short screening scale that can be used in different cultures and languages, providing comparative and generalizable results. The scale can be used globally in clinical and organizational settings, with the IWAS-5 being recommended for most practical and clinical situations. This is the first study to provide data supporting the hypothesis that work addiction is a universal phenomenon worldwide. workaholism validation cross-cultural studies Bergen Work Addiction Scale compulsive overworking cross-cultural work addiction deloholizem validacija mednarodne raziskave true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Znanstveno delo 2025-08-19 03:19:21 2025-08-29 08:21:36 2025-08-30 03:37:20 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 str. 220-245 št. 1 Letn. 14 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2024-07-06 2025-01-09 2025-03-28 159.98 227502339 10.1556/2006.2025.00005 2062-5871 RAZ_Charzyńska_Edyta_2025.pdf RAZ_Charzyńska_Edyta_2025.pdf 1 6CD85B5BBF51FA052732AC07A5A39500 cc743f97393bc166ea49342582826ce943d590e1a74fdd00869349a2c1d33f08 4566db39-84a1-11f0-a764-00155d000105 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=196952 https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2025.00005 0 50d35b8c-84a1-11f0-a764-00155d000105 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=196953 Filozofska fakulteta 0 0 0