The Feeling of Loneliness: the Features of the Experience and the Relationship with Work Addiction

Based on the analysis of various psychological approaches to the problem of experiencing loneliness, the authors pose the problem of the functional role of the feeling of loneliness in the situation of dependence on labor activity. It is hypothesized that there is a relationship between the level of loneliness and labor dependence, according to which workers with a high level of loneliness are more inclined to resort to workaholism as a coping strategy. The results of the study are presented on a sample of 135 respondents who completed an online questionnaire. The results confirm a direct correlation between the level of loneliness and the expression of such a component of labor addiction as “work compulsion”. Significant differences were found between subgroups of respondents in such indicators as the level of perceived social support, loneliness and work-life balance. Differences were found in relation to work-life balance between groups who regularly receive professional psychological help and respondents who do not seek it on a regular basis. The relationship between length of service and such component of work addiction as excessive work was revealed. The results indicate that the relationship between the level of loneliness and the severity of workaholism is independent and is not mediated by the level of perceived social support and work-life balance. The hypothesis about the relationship between the level of loneliness and work addiction was confirmed.