Public service motivation en werkverslaving: Een kwantitatief onderzoek naar de relatie tussen public service motivation en werkverslaving onder academici van de Universiteit van Amsterdam en de rol van HRM hierin

Abstract

Recent research has shown that workaholism is a major issue amongst academics, but there remains a lack of research investigating the personal and work characteristics which may explain workaholism. This article examines the relationship between public service motivation (PSM) and workaholism, and places PSM as a predictor and workaholism as an outcome in the Job Demands-Recources (JD-R) model. Placing PSM in the JD-R model will examine whether PSM must be seen as a personal demand or a personal resource in the context of workaholism. Further, this article examines the role developmental HR-practices and maintenance HR-practices play in this relationship. This was investigated using surveys amongst academics in the Netherlands (total N=759). Results confirm the hypothesis that high levels of PSM correlate with workaholism, hence PSM must be seen as a personal demand in the context of workaholism. The dimensions self-sacrifice and commitment to the public interest and compassion are more strongly associated with workaholism than the dimension attraction to the public policy making, but only compassion was significant. Developmental and maintenance HR-practices have a direct negative relationship with workaholism; by forming job resources and therefore lowering job demands, the risk of workaholism is reduced. Both HR-practices don’t seem to fungate as a buffer for PSM as a personal demand in relation to workaholism. This article provides theoretical and practical implications and gives suggestions for further research.