Marital estrangement, positive affect, and locus of control among spouses of workaholics and spouses of nonworkaholics: A national study

This study compared a sample of spouses of workaholics and spouses of nonwo rkaholics on ratings of marital estrangement, positive feelings toward husb and, and locus of control. A random national sample of 326 participants dra wn from the membership list of the American Counseling Association was surv eyed. Spouses of workaholics reported greater marital estrangement and less positive affect towards husbands and higher external locus of control than spouses of nonworkaholics, These findings were the first empirical results to corroborate clinical and case study reports. Clinical implications of t hese findings are also presented.