Heavy study investment in college students: Studyholism and Study Engagement prevalence

Studyholism is a new potential clinical condition defined as an obsessive-compulsive related disorder, which might be associated with either high or low levels of Study Engagement. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of
Studyholism, Study Engagement, and four types of student (i.e., Disengaged Studyholics, Engaged Studyholics, Engaged students, Detached students) on a wide and heterogeneous sample of Italian college students. Moreover, it aims to discern
if there are any differences between types of student concerning gender, academic major, and age. The participants (n = 5159) were in different years and studied different academic majors in various Italian cities. Pearson’s chi-squared tests and an ANOVA have been performed. Studyholism is widespread (15.4%) and Engaged Studyholics (3.2%) are the most prevalent type of student. The least prevalent type is the Engaged student (1.6%). Moreover, there are more females in the Detached student and the Engaged Studyholic types. Given its prevalence, future studies should further analyze
Studyholism in children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents, as well as in other countries.
Keywords: OCD, Workaholism, Study addiction