title: Irrational beliefs at work and their implications for workaholism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined the associations between work-related irrational cognitions and workaholism. For this purpose, a 16-item work-related irrational beliefs questionnaire (WIB-Q) was developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Employees (n = 913) completed an online survey that included, besides the irrational cognitions scale, measures of negative affect and workaholism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that four factors could be distinguished, which represent irrational beliefs concerning (1) performance demands, (2) co-workers' approval (3) failure and (4) control. All scales showed good internal consistency. Furthermore, it was found that, after controlling for negative affect, performance demands were associated with workaholism, whereas the remaining types of irrationality were unrelated to workaholism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In other words, the findings suggest that interventions for workaholism should target irrational self-oriented performance demands and negative emotions. As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy focuses on identifying and replacing irrational cognitions, it appears a useful intervention technique for the treatment of workaholics.
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands, corinevanwijhe@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Wijhe
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Wilmar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schaufeli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009426:Netherlands; D011617:Psychotherapy, Rational-Emotive; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires