Exploring Negative Affect in Entrepreneurial Activity: Effects on Emotional Stress and Contribution to Burnout
Emotions and Organizational Governance
ISBN: 978-1-78560-998-5, eISBN: 978-1-78560-997-8
Publication date: 7 June 2016
Abstract
Purpose
Entrepreneurial activity is particularly rich in affective events, but these affective events are still underexplored compared to salaried work. Nevertheless, in small organizations, the running of the whole business may easily be impacted by the owner’s negative experiences.
Methodology/approach
To characterize these emotional lows, we undertook a mixed methods research study using a panel of 357 French small business owners. We collected their monthly work events 10 times and semantically categorized the negative ones. We weighted each category on its probability of occurrence and its emotional intensity of stress. Finally, we assessed the contribution of the cumulated events to the risk of burnout.
Findings
The findings of this study comprise a set of affective event categories applicable to business owners and entrepreneurs. Tables are ranked by times cited and intensity. Results of a regression analysis show that intensity of negative events is related to burnout, especially for younger and female employers.
Research implications
The findings of this study extend the affective events framework to self-employed, supply a rigorous and predictive inventory for future surveys
Practical implications
The results offer small business owners as well as carers an “emotional stressometer” to benchmark the aversive events of the entrepreneurial activity.
Social implications
Employer burnout caused by the experience of negative affective events affects the lives of employers and can carry across to non-work life.
Originality/value
This is the first study to develop a comprehensive list of negative affective events specifically for small business owners and entrepreneurs, rather than salaried employees.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgment
This work was supported by the insurance group Malakoff Médéric and the French National Research Agency through the program “Investments for the future” (Grant No. ANR-10-LabX-11-01, LABEX Entreprendre).
Citation
Lechat, T. and Torrès, O. (2016), "Exploring Negative Affect in Entrepreneurial Activity: Effects on Emotional Stress and Contribution to Burnout", Emotions and Organizational Governance (Research on Emotion in Organizations, Vol. 12), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 69-99. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1746-979120160000012003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited