Exploring the Role of Workaholism and Social Support in Social Anxiety and Loneliness. Findings and Implications From a Cross-Sectional Study in a Romanian Sample

The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to address a gap in the literature regarding the potential role of workaholism and social support in the development of social anxiety and loneliness. This study involved 338 individuals from Romania, with 53.8% females and 45.9% males, ranging in age from 18 to 45 (M = 24.79, SD = 4.75). Participants completed instruments assessing workaholism, social anxiety, loneliness, social support, and socio-demographic data. Our findings showed that workaholism and social support predicted social anxiety and loneliness. This study may contribute to the existing body of knowledge on key constructs related to workaholism, while highlighting its potential negative impact on mental health. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, along with recommendations, while acknowledging the limitations of the research design and the inability to infer causal relationships from the data.