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ISSN (Print): 2333-4495 ISSN (Online): 2333-4533 Website: https://www.sciepub.com/journal/jbms Editor-in-chief: Heap-Yih Chong
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Journal of Business and Management Sciences. 2025, 13(4), 91-101
DOI: 10.12691/jbms-13-4-2
Open AccessArticle

Unpacking the Toxic Trio: Exploring the Interplay Between Workaholism, Workplace Aggression, and Perfectionism

Sarah Wellman1, Shahnaz Aziz1, , Zoe Strohmeyer1 and Ciara Covington1

1Department of Psychology, Mail Stop 565, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA

Pub. Date: August 05, 2025
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Cite this paper:
Sarah Wellman, Shahnaz Aziz, Zoe Strohmeyer and Ciara Covington. Unpacking the Toxic Trio: Exploring the Interplay Between Workaholism, Workplace Aggression, and Perfectionism. Journal of Business and Management Sciences. 2025; 13(4):91-101. doi: 10.12691/jbms-13-4-2

Abstract

The current study fills a gap in the extant research on three constructs that have been studied independently rather than collectively: aggressive behavior, perfectionism, and workaholism. Past research has not answered the more specific question of what relationship, if any, exists between these three variables. Our study builds on theoretical frameworks linking internal emotional states and performance-based self-esteem to workplace behavior. Notably, we explored the association between aggressive behavior, perfectionism, and workaholism with a survey comprised of three validated self-report measures. This survey was administered to a sample of full-time white-collar employees from various businesses. Findings supported previous research on the relationship between workaholism and perfectionism. Additionally, new links between aggressive behavior and the other study variables were found. Workaholism was positively associated with aggressive behavior and mediated the relationship between aggression and perfectionism. Further, exploratory analyses revealed gender moderated the relationship between perfectionism and workaholism, with women showing a stronger association. Our findings highlight the interaction between personality traits and behavioral outcomes in the workplace, and emphasize the importance of organizations implementing intervention strategies early on to lower the risk of harmful outcomes.

Keywords:
aggressive behavior perfectionism workaholism occupational health organizational behavior

Creative CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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