Top

Small Business Economics

Published in:

05-08-2020

Depression among entrepreneurs: a scoping review

Authors: Lauren Cubbon, Kristin Darga, Uira Duarte Wisnesky, Liz Dennett, Christine Guptill

Published in: Small Business Economics | Issue 2/2021

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

Entrepreneurial work can be challenging, including financial dependence on both the success of the venture and the continued work ability and well-being of the founder. Popular media suggests that entrepreneurs are at increased risk of depression and suicide; however, the research literature addressing this risk is unclear. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore what is known about depression among entrepreneurs. Scoping review and thematic synthesis of the findings. Thirty-four articles fit the criteria and corresponded to four overarching themes: Social relations, Personal factors, Work characteristics, and Mental health. Each theme contains sub-themes regarding the psychological impact of entrepreneurial work. These include personal factors such as gender, personality traits, and routine. Other factors include significant time demands, putting entrepreneurs at risk for social isolation and relationship strain. These may result in feelings of failure and shame, while stigma and a need to project a positive brand identity may prevent entrepreneurs from seeking the help that they need. This review demonstrates the variety of factors that impact entrepreneurs’ mental health. The themes that emerged from this work are congruent with a diathesis-stress model of depression. Together, these factors may contribute to a risk of depression and suicide among entrepreneurs that is, as yet, relatively unexplored in peer-reviewed research literature.

previous article Social sexual behaviour and co-worker trust in start-up enterprises

next article Designing for sustainable work during industrial startups—the case of a high-growth entrepreneurial firm

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Available only for authorised users

Alt, S. (2019). Farmer suicides and the function of death in neoliberal biopolitics. International Political Sociology, 13(1), 37–52. https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/oly024.CrossRef

American Psychiatric Association (APA) (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Ed. (DSM-5). Arlington, VA: APA. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Arksey, H., & O'Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616.CrossRef

Arnau-Soler, A., Adams, M. J., Clarke, T. K., MacIntyre, D. J., Milburn, K., Navrady, L., et al. (2019). A validation of the diathesis-stress model for depression in Generation Scotland. Translational Psychiatry, 9(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-018-0356-7.CrossRef

Arnold, J. (2016). Preventing startup suicide. Literally. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/271435

Barstad, A., & Skrede, K. (2009). Levekår i landbruket 1995–2004. Livsform og rammebetingelse i endring. Oslo: Statistics Norway Retrieved from https://www.ssb.no/jord-skog-jakt-og-fiskeri/artikler-og-publikasjoner/levekaar-i-landbruket-1995-2004.

Beutell, N. J. (2007). Self-employment, work-family conflict and work-family synergy: antecedents and consequences. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 20(4), 325–334. https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2007.10593403.CrossRef

Bradley, D. E., & Roberts, J. A. (2004). Self-employment and job satisfaction: investigating the role of self-efficacy, depression, and seniority. Journal of Small Business Management, 42(1), 37–58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2004.00096.x.CrossRef

Dahl, M. S., Nielsen, J., & Mojtabai, R. (2010). The effects of becoming an entrepreneur on the use of psychotropics among entrepreneurs and their spouses. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 38(8), 857–863. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494810375490.CrossRef

Darga, K. (2017). Impact Founder: inspirational stories of entrepreneurs who risk everything for what they believe in. Denver: Positively Powered ISBN: 0996169245.

DeJong, R., & Verhage, J. (1987). Quality of life and depression in entrepreneurs and managers. Journal of Human Behavior and Learning, 2(4), 46–53.

Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: a challenge for biomedicine. Science, 196, 129–136.CrossRef

European Commission (n.d.). Promoting entrepreneurship. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/promoting-entrepreneurship_en

Freeman, M. A., Staudenmaier, P. J., Zisser, M. R., & Andresen, L. A. (2019). The prevalence and co-occurrence of psychiatric conditions among entrepreneurs and their families. Small Business Economics, 53(2), 323–342. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-018-0059-8.CrossRef

Gevaert, J., Moortel, D. D., Wilkens, M., & Vanroelen, C. (2018). What’s up with the self-employed? A cross-national perspective on the self-employed’s work-related mental well-being. SSM - Population Health, 4, 317–326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2018.04.001.CrossRef

Gourguechon, P. (2018). Entrepreneurs and suicide risk: a new perspective on entrapment provides hope. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/prudygourguechon/2018/08/23/entrepreneurs-and-suicide-a-new-perspective-on-entrapment-gives-hope/#463773025385

Government of Canada (2016). Canada: a nation of innovators. Retrieved from https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/062.nsf/vwapj/InnovationNation_Report-EN.pdf/$file/InnovationNation_Report-EN.pdf

Gunia, B. C. (2018). The sleep trap: do sleep problems prompt entrepreneurial motives but undermine entrepreneurial means? Academy of Management Perspectives, 32(2), 228–242. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2016.0159.CrossRef

Guptill, C. (2012). Injured professional musicians and the complex relationship between occupation and health. Journal of Occupational Science, 19(3), 258–270. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2012.670901.CrossRef

Hammell, K. W. (2009). Self-care, productivity, and leisure, or dimensions of occupational experience? Rethinking occupational “categories”. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(2), 107–114. https://doi.org/10.1177/000841740907600208.CrossRef

Hessels, J., Rietveld, C. A., Thurik, A. R., & Van der Zwan, P. (2018). Depression and entrepreneurial exit. Academy of Management Perspectives, 32(3), 323–339. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2016.0183.CrossRef

Hounsome, B., Edwards, R., Hounsome, N., & Edwards-Jones, G. (2012). Psychological morbidity of farmers and non-farming population: results from a UK survey. Community Mental Health Journal, 48(4), 503–510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9415-8.CrossRef

Innovation and Science Australia (2017). Australia 2030: prosperity through Innovation. Canberra: Australian Government. Retrieved from https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/australia-2030-prosperity-through-innovation

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC) (2019). Key Small Business Statistics - January 2019. Retrieved from https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/061.nsf/eng/h_03090.html

Kallioniemi, M. K., Simola, A. J. K., Kymalainen, H., Vesala, H. T., & Louhelainen, J. K. (2009). Mental symptoms among Finnish farm entrepreneurs. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 16(1), 159–168.

Kameyama, A., Matsumoto, T., Katsumata, Y., Akazawa, M., Kitani, M., Hirokawa, S., et al. (2011). Psychosocial and psychiatric aspects of suicide completers with unmanageable debt: a psychological autopsy study. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 65(6), 592–595. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.2011.02266.x.CrossRef

Kerr, B. (2015). Depression among entrepreneurs is an epidemic nobody is talking about. The hustle. Retrieved from https://thehustle.co/depression-among-entrepreneurs-is-an-epidemic-nobody-is-talking-about

Kolstrup, C. L., Kallioniemi, M., Lundqvist, P., Kymalainen, H., Stallones, L., & Brumby, S. (2013). International perspectives on psychosocial working conditions, mental health, and stress of dairy farm operators. Journal of Agromedicine, 18(3), 244–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2013.796903.CrossRef

Leignel, S., Schuster, J.-P., Hoertel, N., Poulain, X., & Limosin, F. (2014). Mental health and substance use among self-employed lawyers and pharmacists. Occupational Medicine, 64(3), 166–171. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqt173.CrossRef

Lepeley, M.-T. (2019). The multiplier effect of wellbeing of women entrepreneurs: a practical approach and a personal account (pp. 3-22). In M.-T. Lepeley, K. Kuschel, N. Beutell, N. Pouw, & E. L. Eijdenberg (Eds.), The wellbeing of women in entrepreneurship: a global perspective. New York: Routledge ISBN: 0367234386.CrossRef

Levac, D., Colquhoun, H., & O’Brien, K. K. (2010). Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science, 5(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-5-69.CrossRef

Lin, S.-K., Lee, C.-H., Pan, C.-H., & Hu, W.-H. (2003). Comparison of the prevalence of substance use and psychiatric disorders between government- and self-employed commercial drivers. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 57(4), 425–431. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1819.2003.01142.x.CrossRef

Logstein, B. (2016). Predictors of mental complaints among Norwegian male farmers. Occupational Medicine-Oxford, 66(4), 332–337. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqw019.CrossRef

Loisel, P., Buchbinder, R., Hazard, R., Keller, R., Scheel, I., van Tulder, M., et al. (2005). Prevention of work disability due to musculoskeletal disorders: The challenge of implementing evidence. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 15(4), 507–524. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-005-8031-2.CrossRef

Mielniczuk, E., & Laguna, M. (2018). Positive affect mediates the relationship between self-efficacy and innovative behavior in entrepreneurs. Journal of Creative Behavior., 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.364.

Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. British Medical Journal, 339(7716), 332–336. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2535.CrossRef

Monroe, S. M., & Simons, A. D. (1991). Diathesis-stress theories in the context of life stress research: implications for the depressive disorders. Psychological Bulletin, 110(3), 406–425. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.110.3.406.CrossRef

National Research Council. (2012). Rising to the challenge: U.S. innovation policy for the global economy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13386.CrossRef

Park, J., Han, B., & Kim, Y. (2019). Comparison of occupational health problems of employees and self-employed individuals who work in different fields. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2019.1577209.

Patzelt, H., & Shepherd, D. A. (2011). Negative emotions of an entrepreneurial career: self-employment and regulatory coping behaviors. Journal of Business Venturing, 26(2), 226–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2009.08.002.CrossRef

Piškur, B., Beurskens, A. J., Jongmans, M. J., Ketelaar, M., Norton, M., Frings, C. A., et al. (2012). Parents’ actions, challenges, and needs while enabling participation of children with a physical disability: a scoping review. BMC Pediatrics, 12(1), 177. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-12-177.CrossRef

Pollack, J. M., Vanepps, E. M., & Hayes, A. F. (2012). The moderating role of social ties on entrepreneurs’ depressed affect and withdrawal intentions in response to economic stress. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 33(6), 789–810. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.1794.CrossRef

Popay, J., Roberts, H., Snowden, A., Petticrew, M., Arai, L., Britten, N., & Duffy, S. (2006). Guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis in systematic reviews: final report. Swindon: ESRC Research Methods Programme Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.178.3100&rep=rep1&type=pdf.

Rahim, A. (1996). Stress, strain, and their moderators: an empirical comparison of entrepreneurs and managers. Journal of Small Business Management, 34(1), 46–58.

Santin, G., Cohidon, C., Goldberg, M., & Lmbernon, E. (2009). Depressive symptoms and atypical jobs in France, from the 2003 decennial health survey. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 52(10), 799–810. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20744.CrossRef

Slade, T., Gross, D., Niwa, L., McKillop, A. B., & Guptill, C. (2020). Improving the inclusivity, methodological quality, and ethical administration of sex and gender demographic questions. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. (in press)

Smith, R., & Mcelwee, G. (2011). After the fall: developing a conceptual script based model of shame in narratives of entrepreneurs in crisis! International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 31(1–2), 91–109. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443331111104823.CrossRef

Stephan, U., & Roesler, U. (2010). Health of entrepreneurs versus employees in a national representative sample. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83, 717–738. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317909X472067.CrossRef

Taylor, R. R. (2017). Kielhofner’s model of human occupation: theory and application (5th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer ISBN: 1451190344.

Toivanen, S., Mellner, C., & Vinberg, S. (2015). Self-employed persons in Sweden - mortality differentials by industrial sector and enterprise legal form: a five-year follow-up study. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 58(1), 21–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22387.CrossRef

Toivanen, S., Griep, R. H., Mellner, C., Vinberg, S., & Eloranta, S. (2016). Mortality differences between self-employed and paid employees: a 5-year follow-up study of the working population in Sweden. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 73(9), 627–636. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2015-103472.CrossRef

Torske, M. O., Bjorngaard, J. H., Hilt, B., Glasscoc, K. D., & Krokstad, S. (2016). Farmers’ mental health: a longitudinal sibling comparison - the HUNT study, Norway. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, Supplement, 42(6), 547–556. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3595.CrossRef

Townsend, E. & Polatajko, H. (2013). Enabling occupation II (2nd ed.) Ottawa: CAOT Publications ACE. ISBN: 189543789.

Uy, M. A., Foo, M. D., & Song, Z. (2013). Joint effects of prior start-up experience and coping strategies on entrepreneurs’ psychological well-being. Journal of Business Venturing, 28(5), 583–597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2012.04.003.CrossRef

Van Praag, C. M., & Versloot, P. H. (2007). What is the value of entrepreneurship? A review of recent research. Small Business Economics, 29(4), 351–382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-007-9074-x.CrossRef

Wijnvoord, L. E. C., Brouwer, S., Buitenhuis, J., van der Klink, J. J. L., & de Boer, M. R. (2016). Indications of a scarring effect of sickness absence periods in a cohort of higher educated self-employed. PLoS One, 11(5), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156025.CrossRef

Wiklund, J., Hatak, I., Patzelt, H., & Shepherd, D. A. (2018). Mental disorders in the entrepreneurship context: when being different can be an advantage. Academy of Management Perspectives, 32(2), 182–206. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2017.0063.CrossRef

World Health Organization (WHO). (2001). International classification of functioning, disability and health. Geneva: WHO ISBN: 9241545429.

Title: Depression among entrepreneurs: a scoping review
Authors: Lauren Cubbon
Kristin Darga
Uira Duarte Wisnesky
Liz Dennett
Christine Guptill
Publication date: 05-08-2020
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Small Business Economics / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 0921-898X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-0913
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-020-00382-4

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Other articles of this Issue 2/2021

Creative and resourceful: How human, social, and psychological resources affect creative workers’ ability to rebound after failure

Why do startups pursue initial coin offerings (ICOs)? The role of economic drivers and social identity on funding choice

New and small firms in a modern working life: how do we make entrepreneurship healthy?

Artists as public sector intrapreneurs: an experiment

Crowdinvesting in entrepreneurial projects: disentangling patterns of investor behavior

Serial and large investors in initial coin offerings