Workaholism, Work Engagement and Work-Home Outcomes: Exploring the Mediating Role of Positive and Negative Emotions

AbstractThis study examines the mechanisms through which workaholism and work engagement impact work–homeconflict and enrichment, respectively. Specifically, we examine the mediating role of positive and negative emotions(e.g. joviality and guilt) in the relationship between workaholism, work engagement and work–home outcomes. Re-sults, based on a sample of 340 working adults participating in a two-wave study, indicate that negative emotions—particularly anxiety, anger and disappointment—mediate the relationship between workaholism and work–homeconflict and positive emotions—particularly joviality and self-assurance—mediate the relationship between workengagement and work–home enrichment. These results provide further evidence that workaholism and workengagement are related to distinct sets of emotional variables and disparate work and home outcomes. Copyright© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Received 23 October 2012; Revised 28 April 2013; Accepted 8 June 2013Keywordsworkaholism; work engagement; work–family conflict; work–home conflict; work–family enrichment; work–home enrichment; emotions*CorrespondenceCorrespondence Malissa A. Clark, Department of Psychology, Auburn University, 226 Thach Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5214, USA.