Adaptation of the Bergen Work Addition Scale into Turkish: A Validity and Reliability Testing Study

Abstract

This study aimed to adapt the Bergen Work Addiction Scale (BWAS) developed by Andreassen, Griffiths, Hetland and Pallesen (2012) into Turkish and to test its validity and reliability. In this context, the factor structure (confirmatory factor analyses), construct validity (convergent validity and relations with other structures), and reliability (internal consistency) of the Turkish version of BWAS (BWAS-T) were tested. In order to test the convergent validity of the scale, the relationship of BWAS-T with a Turkish form of the Dutch Work Addiction Scale was examined. To test the relationship of the scale with other structures, the relationship of BWAS-T with job stress, job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and weekly average working hours was examined. The properties of the scale were tested with linguistic equivalence, item analysis, construct validity, and Cronbach Alpha reliability analysis methods. Two hundred ninety-four employees working in various sectors participated in the study. According to the findings of the study, it was determined that the values of the fit indices obtained for factor structure of BWAS-T were within an acceptable range and that the one-factor structure was supported in accordance with the original study. Confirmatory factor analysis findings were chi(2) = 45.916, p < .001, chi(2)/df = 3.53, TLI = .88, CFI = .93, GFI = .96, AGFI = .91, RMSEA = .07. The internal consistency value of BWAS-T was calculated as.78 and it was concluded that reliability of the scale was acceptable. It was found that BWAS-T has positive associations with DUWAS-TR's total score and DUWAS-TR's sub-dimensions (i.e., working excessively and working compulsively), and thus the convergent validity was supported. As expected, BWAS-T was positively associated with job stress and weekly average working hours and negatively associated with job satisfaction and life satisfaction. In addition, BWAS-T and DUWAS-TR correlated with job stress, job satisfaction, life satisfaction and weekly average working hours with similar effect sizes. Based on these findings, BWAS-T is a measurement tool with evidence of psychometric properties.