Stress Processes: An Essential Ingredient in the Entrepreneurial Process

Abstract

The entrepreneurial process is associated with high uncertainty. Uncertainty is also a major source of stress. Therefore, a core aim of entrepreneurs is to reduce uncertainty to an extent that allows the entrepreneurial process to unfold. However, entrepreneurship scholars have insufficiently addressed stress processes that may be associated with this uncertainty. We argue that uncertainty is the concept connecting both the entrepreneurial and stress processes. We discuss the link between the two processes regarding: (1) opportunity recognition, (2) opportunity exploitation, and (3) associated outcomes. We then illustrate how future research should incorporate the interaction between the two processes using a morphological box and discuss how such research would change the way we specify entrepreneurial process models and study entrepreneurial behavior.

Mental Disorders in the Entrepreneurship Context: When Being Different Can Be An Advantage

“…High psychological work demands (i.e., excessive workload and extreme time demands) are positively associated with both the entrepreneurial process and higher risk of depression and anxiety (Melchior et al, 2007). Studies (for an overview, see Rauch et al, 2017;Stephan, 2018) point to both sides of the entrepreneurship-stress relationship: some studies indicate that entrepreneurship decreases stress (e.g., through job design), and others say it raises stress (e.g., through long work hours). Both of these lines of thinking can be right, just not for all people and not for all entrepreneurial ventures and not for all stages of the entrepreneurial lifecycle.…”

“…In this regard, taking account of environmental contingencies may be critical as some entrepreneurs operate in complex and dynamic high-tech business environments, which often demand ambidextrous entrepreneurial behavior that is both aligned and adaptable (Rauch et al, 2017). While the sensation seeking of entrepreneurs with ADHD (Wiklund et al, 2017b) may enable them to thrive in dynamic environments on the basis of excitement, high activation, and positive stress, they may experience performance-reducing boredom and distress in more stable, slowly changing contexts.…”

“…Empirical studies have largely focused on stress-related mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Evidence appears mixed regarding whether entrepreneurs experience more or less stress then employees and show more or less signs of anxiety and depression (Rauch et al, 2017;Stephan, 2018). For example, it appears that stress is higher for entrepreneurs after entry into self-employment than before entry as indicated by increased use of sedative/hypnotic medication (Dahl et al, 2010).…”

Insomnia: An Important Antecedent Impacting Entrepreneurs’ Health

“…Putting the debate whether entrepreneurs experience overall high or low stress aside, our focus on entrepreneurs' perceived stress provides evidence and highlights that perceived stress mediates the relationship between insomnia and negative affect, which ultimately leads to poor health for entrepreneurs. Therefore, a high level of stress can lead to detrimental outcomes (negative affect and poor health), not beneficial outcomes (e.g., Hessels et al 2018;Rauch et al 2018). Future research is warranted to further our model by investigating how coping behaviors and strategies (e.g., Patzelt and Shepherd 2011;Uy et al 2013) could potentially moderate these relationships and explicate under what circumstances higher levels of negative emotions and stress would be potentially helpful for entrepreneurs.…”

“…Second, by focusing on stress, negative affect, and poor heath, we answer recent calls for entrepreneurial wellbeing research that examines the role of emotions and wellbeing for entrepreneurs (Li 2011). We contribute to this research by highlighting how entrepreneurs' negative affect and emotions lead to their poor health and that entrepreneurs' dark side can lead to a dark outcome (Hessels et al 2018;Rauch et al 2018). Third, by focusing on entrepreneurs' perceived stress-negative affect-poor health relationships, we address recent calls conveying the idea that "[r]esearch can make important contributions to the literature by theorizing and empirically testing mediators and moderators of the stress-health relationship in the entrepreneurial context" (Shepherd and Patzelt 2015, p. 24).…”