Similarities and Differences Between Study Addiction and Study Engagement and Work Addiction and Work Engagement: A Network Analysis

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between symptoms of study addiction and their relationships with dimensions of study engagement. We used two samples in which study addiction was measured with the Bergen Study Addiction Scale and study engagement was measured with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale for Students. The samples comprised Norwegian (n = 1107) and Polish (n = 776) students. The networks featured three clusters of nodes (two clusters of the study addiction symptoms and one cluster of the study engagement dimensions). Study addiction clusters were connected with study engagement cluster through positive edges between absorption and study addiction symptoms, negative edges which vigor shared with conflict and problems, and negative edge between dedication and mood modification. Among the symptoms of study addiction, problems, conflict, and withdrawal were the most central and salience, tolerance, and mood modification were the least central. Moreover, conflict was the most predictable and relapse was the least predictable symptom of study addiction. The results from the present study are similar to those of previous studies on work addiction and support the notion that study addiction may be a precursor to work addiction. Although based on cross-sectional data, the nuanced differences between work addiction and study addiction networks are discussed as they lay a foundation for further investigation of the potential differences in transition mechanisms from healthy engagement to compulsive behavior.