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Perfectionism in employees: Work engagement, workaholism, and burnout

Stoeber, Joachim and Damian, Lavinia E. (2016) Perfectionism in employees: Work engagement, workaholism, and burnout. In: Sirois, Fuschia M. and Molnar, Danielle S., eds. Perfectionism, health, and well-being. Springer, New York, pp. 265-283. ISBN 978-3-319-18581-1. E-ISBN 978-3-319-18582-8. (doi:10.1007/978-3-319-18582-8_12) (KAR id:43727)

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Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18582-8_12

Abstract

Perfectionism is a prevalent personality disposition that may affect all domains of life. Work is an important domain of life for many people. Yet, research on perfectionism at work and how perfectionism affects employees’ health and well-being is still limited. Research, however, has investigated perfectionism’s relationships with three key aspects of peoples’ working lives that are closely associated with employees’ health and well-being: work engagement, workaholism, and job burnout. Differentiating between perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns (Stoeber & Otto, 2006), the present chapter presents an overview of the relevant research findings. Taken together, the findings suggest that (a) perfectionistic strivings show positive relationships with work engagement whereas perfectionistic concerns show no relationships or negative relationships, (b) perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns both show positive relationships with workaholism, and (c) perfectionistic strivings show negative relationships with burnout whereas perfectionistic concerns show positive relationships. To explain the opposite relationships that perfectionistic strivings and concerns show with burnout, two hypothetical models are presented. In Model 1, autonomous versus controlled motivation explain the opposite relationships of perfectionistic strivings and concerns with burnout. In Model 2, adaptive versus maladaptive coping explain the relationships. The chapter concludes with directions for future research on perfectionism, work engagement, workaholism, and job burnout pointing out the importance of longitudinal studies and intervention studies.

Item Type: Book section
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/978-3-319-18582-8_12
Uncontrolled keywords: perfectionism; work; employees; work engagement; workaholism; burnout; motivation; coping
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Joachim Stoeber
Date Deposited: 28 Oct 2014 04:40 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Feb 2021 12:56 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/43727 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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