Abstract
While research on personality factors and economic success of entrepreneurs has flourished over the years, studies on their specific working conditions and their impact on health and career are surprisingly scarce. This study used a qualitative approach to comprehensively mirror the working situation of German small business owners. To reflect the broadness of this employment type and avoid sampling bias, we applied a quota sampling strategy based on a preliminary typology of solo self-employed respondents we derived from a large quantitative survey. We investigated 29 small business owners who reported, for example, on health complaints, recovery opportunities, and obstacles and resources while running their businesses. Thematic analysis was employed to develop a specific frame model for small business owners based on established work-related stress theories which allowed us to derive concrete hypotheses for further quantitative research. The main results emphasized the meaning of active actions and the workers’ own responsibility for creating working conditions and enabling autonomy. Besides personal preferences regarding the chosen career path, marketability, flexibility, and social networks played a role and explained health and career issues. When it came to practical implications, voluntariness played an essential role for selecting this specific career path. Those being pushed into self-employment as their only viable job opportunity should receive particular support through career counseling to sustain their health.
Highlights
Much research has been done on the economic effects of self-employment, environmental conditions for entrepreneurial success, and if the attributes of the person themselves fit into this career path
We will derive our three main research questions (RQs) by first referring to the well-being of small business owners, introducing the interplay of stressors and resources and its impact on mental health for small business owners, and we summarize relevant knowledge on the role of personality in well-being
As solo self-employed people can work in most professional fields, we developed a typology to assess all or at least most of the relevant types of small business owners prior to our interview study (Kottwitz et al, 2019a)
Summary
Much research has been done on the economic effects of self-employment, environmental conditions for entrepreneurial success, and if the attributes of the person themselves fit into this career path. Small business owners (being solo self-employed without personnel) face financial uncertainties, a high workload, long working hours, and are often unable to call in sick. The financial uncertainties and economic insecurity most small business owners face daily recently became apparent with. Caught Between Autonomy and Insecurity the emergence, spread, and impact of the COVID-19 crisis. This led to the creation of policies to offer specific support for those who were solo self-employed. Our study aimed to explore the working situation, assuming that resources (e.g., autonomy), strain (e.g., dependency on contracts with clients) and health and career outcomes of small business owners come at the right time
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
